Bunthang Ponn arraigned on charges of assault and battery/ Authorities say he caused significant injuries and irreparable brain damage to his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter

12/07/2012

A 26-year-old Lowell man with a record of child abuse in Minnesota was ordered held on $500,000 cash bail after prosecutors say he allegedly abused his girlfriend's 2-year-old child, breaking the child's back and ribs, and causing irreparable brain damage.

In Lowell District Court on Friday, Bunthang Ponn, of 18 Walnut St., Lowell, was ordered held on high bail after pleading not guilty to assault and battery on a child with substantial injury, assault and battery on a child with injury (four counts) and intimidation of a witness.

While prosecutor Kate Cimini requested $1 million cash bail due to Ponn's criminal record and the seriousness of the new case, Judge Michael Uhlarik ordered Ponn held on $500,000 cash bail with conditions that he stay away and have not contact with the victim and her family.

In court, Cimini explained that Ponn was arrested by Lowell Police Thursday night as a result of an investigation into an incident on Nov. 30 when the 2-year-old girl had to be rushed to the hospital because the child couldn't walk and began having seizures.

Ponn, who is not the child's biological father, had been taking care of the child, Cimini said. Ponn allegedly told his girlfriend that the child had fallen out of a high chair and began to shake, Cimini said.

The child was initially taken to Lowell General Hospital but immediately transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston. Doctors at Children's Hospital discovered the child had five or six fractured vertebrae, three fractured ribs and swelling of the brain, Cimini said.
In addition, doctors found the child had bruises on her arms, back, chin and neck, Cimini said.

Doctors said healing marks on the child's buttocks, which Ponn allegedly indicated was "diaper rash,'' were consistent with burns, Cimini said.

But it is the injuries to the brain that are "significant,'' Cimini said. The child has needed several surgeries and will likely suffer "permanent impairment,'' Cimini said.

Doctors at Children's Hospital indicated the child's head trauma is not consistent with a fall from a chair, but is consistent with being shaken, Cimini said.

When Lowell police arrested Ponn he denied every being left alone with the 2-year-old, but admitted he did baby-sit that child and his sister's children, Cimini said.

The state Department of Children and Family Services was notified.

The child is currently under medical care, but her location was not disclosed by Cimini.

Cimini said that in April of 2011, Ponn was arrested by Lowell police on a charge of being a fugitive from justice in connection with four convictions out of Minnesota for malicious punishment of a child in 2008. Ponn allegedly admitted to police he had been on the run for a while being charged with domestic assault and battery in Florida in 2010 until he was arrested in Lowell last year.

Ponn had his probation in the Minnesota case transferred to the Probation Department in Lowell Superior Court. The Massachusetts Probation Department is contacting Minnesota officials about Ponn's latest arrest. Ponn is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Jan. 4.


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Bunthang Ponn
Bunthang Ponn
Arrest Age : 24 Years Old Gender : M
Current Age : 26 Years Old Birth Date : 4-30-1986
Weight : 165 lbs Eye Color : BRO
Height : 5'01" Hair Color : BLK
Race : WHITE Block : 2700 28th St N
Birth Place : CJ City : ST PETERSBURG,
FL

16-18 Walnut St
Lowell, MA 01852
11 Beds 5 Baths


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Why hasn't the name of the mother been released?

It was unclear Friday if Ponn has an attorney.

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