A Porter Ranch man was in court Monday in connection with the death of his 3-month-old son. The baby’s mother is facing a murder charge.
Eric Shannon Johnson was charged with one count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. Johnson pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said in the courtroom baby Shannon Johnson suffered 3rd-degree burns in late August and had a gash to his head. They said the baby was in dire need of medical attention, and Johnson failed to get the baby help, fearing the Department of Children and Family Services would get involved and blame him for the injuries.
“Extreme lack of judgment, to the point of criminal negligence, that Mr. Johnson was willing to not seek medical treatment for a two-week period for his 3-month-old son who was suffering from very gruesome looking, as well as severe burns, to a very sensitive portion of the body,” a prosecutor told the judge at court. “Suffered a subdural hematoma given through the 4-inch fracture to the skull with a midline shift in his brain.”