A Hot Springs man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony battery charge stemming from injuries allegedly sustained by his 2-month-old son last year after the man deliberately inhaled canned air.
Tylor Austin Mann, 30, appeared with his attorney, Clay Janske, in Garland County Circuit Court to enter his not guilty plea to a charge of first-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A hearing to determine the admissibility of statements Mann reportedly made to Garland County sheriff's investigators is now set for July 10.
A court order barring Mann from contact with the victim and a gag order limiting pretrial publicity in the case were also issued. Mann has been free on $10,000 bond since shortly after his arrest on the charge Jan. 10.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Nov. 12, 2017, sheriff's investigators received a report regarding a 2-month-old male admitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital's pediatric intensive care unit with bilateral skull fractures, subdural hematomas, and altered mental status.
The baby's father, identified as Mann, reportedly told hospital staff he dropped the baby on a tile floor while at a residence on Restful Circle in Hot Springs.
The medical report states physical abuse was suspected in the case. Dr. Rachel Clingenpeel's diagnosis states, "No history of trauma has been provided to explain these injuries, which are consistent with blunt force trauma to both sides of the head."
She noted the injuries were "far more extensive" than those normally seen with relatively short distance household falls and "would require much greater, violent force." She concluded the injuries were consistent with "inflicted trauma and child physical abuse."
On Nov. 13, 2017, Mann was interviewed by sheriff's Investigators Tollece Sutter and Jennifer Tonseth and reportedly stated he went to the kitchen to make a bottle for his son and saw a can of air duster, a product with compressed air designed to clean dirt and lint from electronics, on top of the refrigerator.
Mann allegedly stated "he broke and decided it was a good time to get a little bit in." He said he "doesn't remember much" after that, but guessed he dropped the baby and "possibly could have fallen on him."
He said he remembers picking his son up off the floor and a few minutes later realized the baby was lethargic and had "swelling on the side of his head." When Mann's girlfriend got home, he said he told her what happened and they rushed the baby to the emergency room.
A warrant was issued for Mann on Jan. 5 and he later turned himself in without incident.
Local on 04/05/2018