Bar Nunn Man Pleads Not Guilty to Abusing 3-Month-Old

A Bar Nunn man pleaded not guilty to charges related to an incident that left a three-month-old with multiple fractures including a broken femur.

Appearing in Natrona County District Court Wednesday morning, Christopher C. Denman pleaded not guilty to child abuse. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years behind bars, a fine of $10,000 or both.

The Wyoming Department of Family Services notified law enforcement in November that a child was taken to a Casper medical facility and later to the Denver Children's Hospital with a broken femur.

On Nov. 6, an x-ray showed the three-month-old had three broken ribs and a broken right-shoulder in addition to a broken femur.

A doctor told investigators that the infant's injuries were clearly not an accident.

Medical staff said that the infant's injuries were consistent with having been in a car crash.

Denman told authorities that he was bottle-feeding the baby and moved the infant when he heard a "pop" in the baby's leg. Denman also told investigators that prior to the incident, the baby would not stop crying and he was frustrated. He then picked up the baby and squeezed it "out of love." Denman said he did not intend to hurt the baby but he did admit he acted recklessly.