EL CAJON, Calif. -- An East County man accused of beating his infant son over several months, leaving the baby with dozens of broken bones, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a single count of felony child abuse.
Mauricio Lopez, 33, of Lemon Grove, also faces an allegation that he caused great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old.
The baby's mother took him to Rady Children's Hospital to be evaluated last month, and the father was arrested on Nov. 21 following an investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department
The 5 1/2-month-old boy, whose name is Max, was placed in protective custody, according to Deputy District Attorney Chantal de Mauregne.
The child "has over 30 bones in his body that have been fractured," de Mauregne told Superior Court Judge Lantz Lewis. "Some are old, some are new."
Every bone in the infant's legs was broken, along with some of his ribs, the prosecutor said.
Statements from the defendant and the child's mother indicate that the man "may have caused specific bones to be broken," de Mauregne said.
Lopez, who has a 1995 conviction for carjacking, has five children by several women, including a 6-year-old boy living with him, according to the prosecutor.
Defense attorney Tom Ziegler told the judge his client has lived in the county all his life, but he did not address the charge.
The judge set bail at $200,000 and scheduled a readiness conference for Dec. 4. Lopez faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.
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