Judge rejects plea deal in child abuse case

SANDPOINT — A Ponderay man accused of fracturing his infant son’s head and causing other serious injuries is withdrawing his guilty plea.

District Judge John Patrick Luster advised Bobby Daniel Adams on Monday that he was unwilling to go along with the terms of a proposed plea agreement due to the gravity of the charges, his past history and a “substantial” lack of acceptance of responsibility in the case.

Adams could have proceeded with sentencing in the case anyway, but opted to withdraw his Alford plea and stand trial in 1st District Court on a felony charge of injury to a child.

Adams remains in custody while the case is pending. A trial date has not been set yet.

Under the proposed agreement, which former Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson and defense attorney Todd Reed sought to make binding upon the court, Adams would have received a sentence of two to five years with retained jurisdiction.

If jurisdiction is retained, Adams could potentially qualify for release onto probation after serving six months with the Idaho Department of Correction.

“The court would be rejecting the terms of that agreement,” Luster said.

Adams, 25, inflicted a litany of “grievous” injuries while caring for his son on Aug. 17, 2008, according to charging papers. The complaint alleges Adams fractured the boy’s skull, and caused a subdural hematoma and retinal hemorrhaging.

Adams was charged with injuring another of his children several years ago in western Washington, Robinson has said. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree child abuse and his parental rights were terminated in that case.

If convicted of the latest charge, Adams could be imprisoned for up to 10 years.