KIMBALL, Neb. (AP) – A Kimball man has been sentenced to 30 to 40 years in prison for the death of his 7-month old daughter.
25-year old Alexander Romero pleaded No Contest in May to Negligent Child Abuse Resulting in Death and Attempted Intentional Child Abuse after a jury in March had deadlocked after a week-long trial and 10 hours of deliberation.
Kimball County District Judge Derek Weimer sentenced Romero to 15 to 20 years in prison for each of the felonies and ordered the terms be served consecutively. He did receive credit for 463 days already served.
The case began in March of last year when Romero brought the unresponsive infant to Kimball Health Services. She was flown to Denver, where she died several days later.
Romero initially told investigators the girl fell off a futon and hit the floor, but later changed his story and said she was injured when he tripped and fell while holding her.
The infant’s doctors in Denver said her injuries could not have been caused by either of Romero’s explanations.