An Elgin man was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison Tuesday for breaking an infant girl’s legs while she was left in his care in 2010.
Ricardo Robledo-Espino, 29, of the 300 block of McClure Avenue in Elgin, was convicted of two felony counts of aggravated battery to a child last August after waiving his right to a jury trial.
Robledo-Espino was watching his girlfriend’s 6-week-old daughter on April 3, 2010. Robledo-Espino said he put the baby on a bed, grabbed her around her calves and yanked her toward him because she was crying.
He didn’t immediately tell the mother about the incident, only admitting what happened days later after doctors discovered the injury.
Robledo-Espino later admitted he used more force than he should have, telling doctors he knew he’d hurt the baby girl because she let out a higher-pitched cry when he pulled on her.
“We are committed to protecting and giving a voice to our most vulnerable citizens,” said Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon. “Under no circumstances is it acceptable to knowingly inflict injury on a helpless infant.”
State law requires Robledo-Espino to register with the Child Murderer and Violent Youth Offender Registry, and serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. He was given credit for at least 536 days already served in the Kane County jail.
