Woman pleads guilty to abusing infant

COEUR d’ALENE — One half of a couple accused of grievously harming a 7-week-old infant has pleaded guilty to her role in the abuse.

Hailey N. Harris, 26, of Hayden, pleaded guilty March 30 to injury to a child, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Charging documents indicate Harris admitted to “shaking and/or forcefully grabbing” the infant, causing numerous fractures to ribs and legs, as well as brain injuries.

Harris is being held on $100,000 bail.

She is scheduled to be sentenced June 22 before Judge John Mitchell.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Hayden resident Nicholas T. Branson has pleaded not guilty to injury to a child and forcible sexual penetration by foreign object, both felonies.

He remains in jail on $250,000 bail.

The pair were arrested in January after a month-long investigation by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

KCSO responded to Kootenai Health in December after receiving a report of a 7-week-old infant with “traumatic injuries.”

A doctor who examined the child described brain injuries “not seen in accidental head injury.”

The child reportedly sustained at least 14 fractures, including multiple fractures to both legs, as well as rib fractures consistent with blunt force trauma or squeezing.

Tests reportedly indicated liver damage, likely caused by trauma to the abdomen.

Medical staff also discovered trauma to the child’s genitals.

Police said the investigation indicated Branson and Harris caused the injuries.

When interviewed by police, Branson allegedly told police he injured and sexually abused the child.

A jury trial in Branson’s case is scheduled for June.