Man pleads not guilty to child injury

SANDPOINT — The former operator of a shuttered Ponderay daycare facility is pleading not guilty to a child injury charge.

Dennis Ray McLeish’s plea clears the way for a jury trial in Bonner County Magistrate Court in May. He is free on his own recognizance while the case is pending, court records show.

McLeish, 30, is accused of leaving a 6-month-old unattended in Little Fit Day Care’s infant room with three other children, two of whom beat the child, on Feb. 24.

The child became unresponsive and was taken to Bonner General Immediate Care, a Ponderay Police report said. Chest rubs provoked no response, although an eye poke did, the report said.

The child, who had significant injuries to his head and left side of his face, was taken to Bonner General Health, the report said.

Time-lapsed surveillance camera footage reviewed by police describes escalating forms of violence perpetrated against the 6-month-old.

The abuse included spanking, holding the child down by his back and neck, head-butting, dragging and biting. The child was also hit with a wooden toy and a plastic lawnmower, according descriptions of the footage.

“In all of this time, the baby is clearly trying to get away,” Det. Sgt. Mike Victorino observed in his report.

McLeish admitted leaving the room for “too long” and took responsibility for the incident, the police report said.

“I know that 100 percent that I am at fault,” McLeish told police, according to the report.

Authorities questioned why he didn’t immediately call 911 and summon help. McLeish, the report said, answered that he did not believe the child was badly injured.

McLeish’s defense counsel, Sandpoint attorney Michael Waldrup, is moving to suppress remarks he made to Ponderay Police and Bonner County sheriff’s officials on ground they were obtain in violation of McLeish’s constitutional rights, court records indicate.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall moved for the appointment of a special prosecutor because McLeish is the relative of a county employee.

McLeish was forced to close Little Fit Day Care in March, after the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare revoked its license to provide child care.

Police said the child is recovering from his injuries.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.