web1_TTL041816tcmc.protect.jpg

TCMC to host ‘Protecting the Innocent’ medical and legal seminar

web1_TTL041916miseri.busyhands.jpg

Misericordia students volunteer during spring break

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Pittston man pleaded guilty Monday to charges he assaulted a 4-month-old child.Police say Philip Michael Edwards, 29, of Parsonsage Street, admitted to pinching and squeezing the infant girl multiple times, including on one occasion in which he grabbed the baby&#8217;s sides with such force that fingernail marks were left embedded in her skin.According to a criminal complaint, the infant&#8217;s mother told police she was aware of the bruises for almost two months and suspected Edwards was responsible for them because he had physically and verbally abused her in the past, but she never reported it because she was afraid of him.During an interview with Pittston city police on Oct. 8, Edwards said he had caused bruises to the child&#8217;s lower back, cheek and leg area before, and stated he was &#8220;not ready to be a dad,&#8221; the complaint says.Edwards allegedly told investigators he was was struggling to keep from bringing further harm to the baby, according to the complaint.Luzerne County Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. on Monday accepted Edwards&#8217; guilty plea on one felony count of aggravated assault, and scheduled his sentencing for June 16.Edwards also is prohibited from unsupervised contact with minors, the judge ordered.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Joe Dolinskyjdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston man who pinched 4-month-old infant pleads guilty to assault