Sentencing pending in case

SANDPOINT — A Clark Fork man is scheduled to be sentenced next year on a felony charge of injury to a child.

Axel Roy Anderson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, although a pretrial settlement agreement is recommending a one- to four-year term in exchange for a plea of guilt, according to documents filed in 1st District Court. Under the terms of the agreement, the state would concur with the Idaho Department of Correction’s recommendation on imposition of sentence.

Anderson could be ordered to serve the recommended term or placed in IDOC’s retain jurisdiction program, which imprisons inmates for up to a year before a decision is made for further incarceration or to release the person onto probation.

It’s not clear in court records if imposition of a local jail sentence and a suspended prison term is an option when Anderson is sentenced on Feb. 10, 2017.

Anderson, 22, accused of injuring a 1-year-old girl in his care in May. Anderson was charged after the child was taken to Bonner General Health with bruises to her arm and neck, according to court documents.

When questioned about the injuries, Anderson said he grabbed the child by the collar of her dress to keep her from falling as they descended a flight of steps. A BGH emergency room doctor, however, told investigators that the dark bruising was consistent with abusively forceful grasping, a probable cause affidavit said. The child also had a broken blood vessel in her left eye, also known as subconjunctival hemorrhaging, which is a type of hemorrhaging in infants that can be indicative of physical abuse, court records indicate.

According to the terms of the agreement, an order forbidding Anderson from contacting the child would remain in place until she reaches the age of majority. Anderson would also be ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

Anderson has no prior criminal history in Idaho, according to the state supreme court data repository.