Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Raymon Tyhia, 35, with Assault of a Child in the First Degree for assaulting and shaking his seven-week-old daughter, causing brain damage.

“We hold fully accountable those who abuse the most vulnerable,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “Our Special Assault Unit vigorously prosecutes cases of child abuse, which is one of the worst crimes we see.”

On October 3, 2013, the defendant and the baby’s mother argued about dressing the victim. Angry that the baby was crying, the defendant forcefully grabbed the victim by the leg and drug her towards him, across the couple’s king-sized bed, and forced her into her crib. She continued to cry, so the defendant yanked her out of the crib by her armpit, causing her head to violently bounce back and forth several times. The defendant said the victim stopped crying and appeared to be “out of it” for a few seconds, but then started crying again. Statements from the mother and the grandmother, along with the injuries, indicate there had been other incidents of violent shaking.

The victim’s mother and the defendant took her to Mary Bridge Hospital on October 9, 2013 because she had not eaten since the day before, and was rolling her eyes and screaming. The victim was diagnosed with brain damage, brain hemorrhage and subdural hematoma. The child remains in the hospital for care and observation.

The defendant was arraigned today and bail was set at $500,000. Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.