A Columbia man was sentenced to 18 months in prison Sept. 8 after pleading guilty to abusing his 9-week-old daughter, who suffered a fractured skull.

David Scott Bauer, 36, of Oakland Mills, was sentenced by Howard County Circuit Court Judge Lenore Gelfman after pleading guilty to single counts of second-degree child abuse and reckless endangerment, according to Wayne Kirwan, spokesman for Howard County State's Attorney Dario Broccolino.

Bauer called police Aug. 6, 2007 and said that he had accidentally dropped his daughter, according to a statement of facts produced by prosecutors. The girl suffered internal bleeding on the brain, a skull fracture, retinal bleeding in her right eye and lung disease caused by going without oxygen for a period of time, according to the statement of facts.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital told police the injuries were not consistent with the story Bauer told them, according to the statement. A doctor told police the injuries were more consistent with a combination of "violent shaking and impact, with shaking being the predominant force," according to the statement of facts.

Bauer's attorney, Clarke Ahlers, said he was satisfied with the plea.

"I'm satisfied that it was a just outcome weighing all the concerns in this matter," he said.

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