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California man accused of assaulting toddler to stand trial for attempted homicide

By Mike Jones 2 min read
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Lyndon Henderson

A California man accused of assaulting a 1-year-old boy, who is still hospitalized with life-threatening injuries more than two months later, will stand trial for attempted homicide and other felony charges.

Lyndon Gerald Henderson, 24, appeared Wednesday morning in Washington County Central Court and agreed with his defense attorney to have all charges against him held for court despite not asking prosecutors to present any evidence during his preliminary hearing.

Henderson is accused of injuring the boy Nov. 23 while watching the toddler inside his apartment at 71 Third St. he shared with the child’s mother, who was not home at the time.

The boy was initially taken to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital in Carroll Township, but later transported to UPMC Children’s hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. He was placed on a ventilator and apparently suffered a stroke after undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Henderson told investigators that the child fell off the couch, and he appeared to be fine afterward. But doctors told police that the child suffered a traumatic brain injury and extensive bruising to his body that was “100%, unequivocally, the result of child abuse,” according to court documents. State police in Belle Vernon charged Henderson with attempted homicide, child endangerment, reckless endangerment and three counts each of felony aggravated assault.

After Wednesday morning’s hearing, Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said the child is still hospitalized with “severe injuries,” although he declined to comment on what the prognosis is for recovery. Walsh said he presented Henderson’s defense attorney, Chad Schneider, with medical records showing the scope of the child’s injuries before the hearing.

Henderson, who was shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit, reviewed the records with Schneider for about 15 minutes inside the hushed courtroom while District Judge Joshua Kanalis sat patiently on the bench waiting to begin the hearing. After speaking briefly with Walsh outside the courtroom, Schneider agreed to have his client’s case held for trial – rather than waiving the charges to court – without any evidence being presented.

Henderson is being held without bond at the Washington County jail while he waits for his case to proceed to trial.

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