RICHMOND, IN — A Richmond man who battered a 9-month-old baby and the child’s mother has drawn a 14-month jail sentence.
Darris Richard Siler Sr., 31, had pleaded guilty to battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14 years old, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison, and domestic battery, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month prison term.
According to court documents, Siler in February 2025 told his girlfriend he “did smack the —- outta (the baby) because he wouldn’t stop crying.”
A Richmond police officer reported the child, who was taken to Reid Hospital, had “a very dark shade of purple and black” bruising that covered “a large portion of (his) head and face.”
“The bruising spanned from just above (the baby’s) right eyebrow, along the side and top of his head, covering his entire ear, and wrapping around the back of his head,” the officer wrote.
The child’s mother said Siler had also grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kill her with a baseball bat.
When questioned about the incident, an affidavit said, Siler tried to persuade officers his girlfriend had attacked the child.
Judge April Drake accepted the terms of a plea agreement. On Monday, July 13, she imposed a three-year sentence, with two years suspended, for the battery charge stemming from the child’s injuries, and a 60-day jail term for the domestic battery conviction.
The Richmond man received credit for more than 280 days already served in the Wayne County Jail.
According to court records, Siler has been convicted of crimes including possession of a narcotic drug, disorderly conduct, false informing, resisting law enforcement, theft and visiting a common nuisance.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Richmond man sentenced for battering 9-month-old boy, child’s mother
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Richmond Palladium-Item / Richmond Palladium-Item
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Douglas Walker, Richmond Palladium-Item | USA TODAY Network
