Pennsylvania Police Officer Suspended over Alleged Rape of 13-Month-Old Girl
Family’s Implausible Excuses for Toddler’s Injuries Lead to Suspension of Pennsylvania Police Officer
In Lykens, Pennsylvania a 28-year-old police officer has been suspended from duty following allegations that he raped a 13-month-old girl under his care causing severe injuries. Pennsylvania State Police reported that they responded to a case of severe bruising on the child which occurred between April 11 and April 15, according to the crime report of True Crime Daily. The infant was taken to Hershey Medical Center where medical professionals discovered broken bones and severe bruising.
The child had a broken tibia and fibula and showed signs of sexual violence. The 13-month-old’s mother initially claimed the child fell during a bath, providing implausible explanations for other injuries. She stated that their family dog caused the severe bruises.
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Pennsylvania Police Officer Faces Multiple Charges after Admitting to Injuring Baby Girl
Police identified Steven Cugini as a suspect and during an interview, he admitted to changing the girl’s diapers and bathing her which led to the injuries. The victim’s mother told authorities that Cugini locked himself in the restroom with the child and she heard crying and loud sounds.
Cugini confessed that the child sustained the injuries while he was watching her alone. The Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office approved multiple criminal charges against him, including rape of a child aggravated indecent assault of a child and aggravated assault. He was booked into the Dauphin County Jail on $200,000 bail.
York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow stated that Cugini has been suspended pending the investigation and he will take swift and definitive action if the allegations are proven true.
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