A Sparta woman has been charged with two counts of child abuse in connection with injuries sustained by her three-month old baby.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, they were called to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Thursday, December 6, on a report of a three-month-old infant with injuries consistent with “shaken baby syndrome.” The infant suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

The original incident occurred in the 1400 Block of Glen Park N.W., Sparta Township.

On December 7, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office charged the mother of the child, Heather Anne Reiter, 24, with Child Abuse 1st Degree and Child Abuse 3rd Degree. She was arraigned on the charges in Kent County’s 63^rd District Court on December 10, and is currently lodged in the Kent County Correctional Facility on a $250,000 Cash or Surety Bond. 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Preventing child abuse is a community responsibility that needs

involvement from all Michiganders, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says.

During April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, MDHHS is reminding people that they can help protect children from abuse and neglect. “Michigan’s children can be protected through the power of one person, one community, one dollar or one action,” said Michael Foley, executive director of the Children’s Trust Fund, a nonprofit within MDHHS to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Gov. Rick Snyder has proclaimed this month as Child Abuse Prevention Month in

Michigan, making it the 32nd year that April has had that official designation.

Michigan had 23,813 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in fiscal year 2015.

Residents can prevent abuse by working as a community to create healthy environments for raising children, Foley said. They can also promote preventive factors to strengthen families—including family resiliency, social support systems, nurturing and attachment and knowledge of parenting and child development. Or they can donate money to prevention efforts and report suspected abuse or neglect using an anonymous state hotline that is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The toll-free number in Michigan is 1-855-444-3911. The hotline is available to everyone in Michigan, including the general public and mandatory reporters such as teachers and health professionals who are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

“Tips from the public are crucial in identifying situations in which children are being harmed or are at risk,” said Steve Yager, executive director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Agency. “Once we are alerted, we can take action to provide services to families to keep them together safely or, when necessary, petition courts to remove children from unsafe homes.”

For more information on the Children’s Trust Fund, including how to donate online or on your Michigan tax form, visit www.michigan.gov/PreventChildAbuse.

David Joseph Steiger

The young father charged with fracturing multiple bones in his three-week-old son was sentenced last week to three-and-half to ten years in prison for first-degree child abuse. He pled no contest to the charge.

David Joseph Steiger, 20, of Sparta, was arrested July 3, 2013. His 20-day-old son, Jaxon, was taken to the hospital on June 30 for inconsolable crying, after Steiger had been caring for him. Doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital diagnosed the newborn with 19 broken bones.

Steiger told police that he remembered pushing the baby’s legs until he heard a pop in the left leg. He was reportedly changing the baby’s diaper and said the baby seemed fine after that. He also admitted the baby fell off the couch while he was caring for him. He had no reason for the other injuries, telling authorities he might have caused them but didn’t know because he had blacked out.

Doctors reportedly thought that Jaxon might never crawl. However, recent reports say that Jaxon has recovered from his injuries and is doing well, including crawling.

Sean Robert Griffin

A 26-year-old Howard City man was arrested last week on child abuse charges involving a 13-month old child.

The baby’s mother took the baby to Gerber Hospital in Fremont after seeing injuries the baby girl had sustained while in the mother’s boyfriend’s care. The Michigan State Police were then called to Gerber Hospital.

The baby reportedly suffered three broken ribs and bruising, which doctors identified as abuse.

The suspect was identified as Sean Robert Griffin, of Howard City. He was arraigned on a charge of first degree child abuse, a felony.

David Steiger

Dad charged with child abuse

A Sparta man has been charged with first-degree child abuse of his 20-day-old son.

According to Sparta Police officer David Price, the baby was taken to the hospital on June 30 for inconsolable crying. Doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital diagnosed the newborn with 19 broken bones.

The baby’s father, David Steiger, 19, told police that he remembered pushing the baby’s legs until he heard a pop in the left leg. He was reportedly changing the baby’s diaper and said the baby seemed fine after that. He also admitted the baby fell off the couch while he was caring for him. He had no reason for the other injuries, telling authorities he might have caused them but didn’t know because he had blacked out.

“We have no knowledge of what would have caused him to black out,” said Officer Price.

Steiger was arrested on July 3, even before the warrant was issued. “We wanted to act quickly because we knew he had ties to Georgia and considered him a potential flight risk,” said Price. He explained Steiger has only lived in Sparta for two years.

Steiger was arraigned on Friday, July 5 on one charge of first-degree child abuse, and bond was set at $100,000 cash or surety bond. He could face up to life in prison if convicted. “The penalty is just as serious as a murder charge,” noted Price.

Police do not consider the baby’s mother a suspect in the case.

Edward Fisher

A Cedar Springs man is in jail on child abuse charges.

On Tuesday, June 25, Cedar Springs Police Officer Mandy Stahl investigated a complaint of child abuse. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Edward Roger Fisher, 28, of Cedar Springs. Fisher was picked up over the weekend and was arraigned on Monday, July 1, in 63rd District Court on a charge of child abuse, 3rd degree. Bond was set at $2,000 cash/surety.

Officer Stahl also alerted (CPS) Child Protective Services of the situation and asked that they become involved as well.