SUNBURY - Northumberland County Chief Public Defender Edward Greco wants to hire a medical expert who will help him better prepare for the upcoming trial of a Sunbury woman charged with physically abusing her former boyfriend's young son.
During a pre-trial conference Friday, Judge Charles Saylor granted Greco seven days to submit a motion requesting a doctor be hired due to multiple medical issues involved in the case of April Baker. The defendant is charged by Sunbury Sgt. Christopher Blase with felonies of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children, and misdemeanors of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
President Judge Robert B. Sacavage rejected a plea agreement June 8 for Baker that called for her to serve six to 23 months in county prison. Baker now plans to seek a trial, which has not yet been scheduled by the court.
Baker, 28, who is free on bail, and her former boyfriend, Jason Philhower, 27, of Sunbury, were charged in connection with Jan. 12, 2012, incidents at their former apartment at 634 Susquehanna Ave.
Baker is accused of holding Philhower's son, who was two at the time, upside down by the ankle and throwing him onto a couch, breaking his leg.
The accusations against Philhower and Baker also included reports of putting the child in "timeouts," where he had to face a wall for extended periods of time.
In March 2012, Philhower pleaded guilty to a felony of endangering the welfare of children and was sentenced by Sacavage to 6 to 23 1/2 months in county prison. An additional felony charge of aggravated assault and two misdemeanors of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person were not prosecuted.
First Assistant District Attorney Ann Targonski represented the commonwealth at the pre-trial conference.