Cody Vaughan

A Saxonburg man was sentenced to county prison in Butler County Court on Thursday after being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend's 20-month-old child.

Cody S. Vaughan, 27, was sentenced to nine to 18 months in Butler County Prison by county Judge William Shaffer after previously pleading guilty to misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

Vaughan was initially charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person, which were dismissed as part of the plea.

He also was ordered to undergo 24 months of county probation following the expiration of his parole, and have no contact with victim or caregivers.

Michelle Bender, grandmother of the victim, spoke during the proceeding Thursday, saying her granddaughter was “let down by everyone in the justice system.”

“She suffered in ways unimaginable,” she said. “The pain that was inflicted is unreal. No child deserves to face this pain and agony. The actions taken by Cody are truly unforgivable.”

Medical reports described the injuries that included a black eye, split lip, other head and facial bruises and red circular marks on the child's stomach, forearm and right buttock.

Saxonburg police said the infant was left hospitalized with those numerous injuries.

Vaughan was charged with assaulting the infant in June when he was baby-sitting the girl at his home on Butler Road where he lives with his mother. The child's mother, who was dating Vaughan at the time, had left the child in his care, police said.

Police said Vaughan burned the girl, possibly with a cigarette, hit, slapped and bit her, and allowed her to fall headlong from a bed onto the floor.

The investigation began following a call to ChildLine regarding suspected abuse at the home.

While he was alone baby-sitting the infant, Vaughan allegedly burned her, leaving red circular marks on the child's stomach, forearm and right buttock.

Court documents described some of the other injuries — a dark bruise on the inside corner of the right eye, and abrasions or scabs on the upper lip and left foot.

The girl also had a bite mark on one of her forearms, police said.

Authorities subsequently determined those injuries were the result of “physical abuse” at the hands of Vaughan, documents said.

The child's maternal grandmother noticed the injuries and took her June 22 to UPMC Passavant in Cranberry Township for an examination. The child was later taken to Children's Hospital.

In a police interview, Vaughan claimed the child fell from the bed, hitting an open drawer and landing on the floor accidentally after he had changed her diaper.

Vaughan was held in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail following his arrest.