James Albert Wright, 23, of Victorville is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail for allegedly causing severe brain injury to a 4-month-old baby.
On June 20th the infant was taken to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital suffering from traumatic brain injury. That’s when hospital staff contacted Crimes Against Children Detail and the Sheriff’s Department Specialized Investigation Division to inform them of the suspicious injuries.
Through investigation, detectives determined the baby was in the care of his father James Wright on June 19th. According to authorities, on that date, the victim’s mother and Wright took their son to the Victor Valley Medical Center because he was having difficulty breathing. While at the hospital, doctors found that the 4-month old victim had sustained a severe brain injury as a result of traumatic injury to his head. The baby was transferred to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital for further treatment. Forensic pediatricians found that the baby had bleeding in his brain, which caused blood clots in the veins leading to the brain. The victim also suffered from seizures and a stroke as a result of the injury.
On June 20, 2016, detectives contacted and interviewed Wright about the incident. During the investigation, it was determined that Wright’s account of how the baby received his injuries, was not consistent with the injuries sustained. The infant was solely in the care of Wright at the time of his injury. Detectives learned Wright shook the infant, causing a devastating brain injury.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Wright was placed under arrest for Child Endangerment charges.
The victim is currently admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital.
Wright was booked into the Central Detention Center on June 21, 2016. He is currently housed at the High Desert Detention Center in lieu of $ 500,000 bail. Wright is scheduled for arraignment at the Victorville Superior Court on Thursday, June 23, 2016.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Specialized Investigations – Crimes Against Children Detail.