A 21-year-old Hutchinson man charge with abuse of child was bound over for trial Tuesday after a preliminary hearing which gave some conflicting testimony.
William D. Hickey is actually charged with two alternate theories of the crime. The first theory alleges that on June 11, he knowingly tortured or cruelly beat the 1-year-old child. The other theory alleges that he inflicted cruel and inhumane corporal punishment on the 1-year-old. This after the child sustained injuries to her face and also her bottom.
The state contends that this was no accident, but Hickey contends that he opened a door that tends to stick and the door hit the child. The mother had gone to a friends apartment at the Clusters at 23rd & Lorraine. She says Hickey showed up at that apartment and was “freaking out.” She says he was shaking and seemed scared.
She says she is still supporting Hickey believing that what he said happened is true. The child also had injuries to her bottom and testimony given suggested that the child fell on a vacuum cleaner. The state doesn’t buy that theory.
Although other members of Hickey’s family indicate there were no marks on the child when they saw her earlier that day, they also stated that the child was crazy about Hickey. His sister testified that she hung on her brother “like a Monkey.”
District Attorney Keith Schroeder called this a tragic case where the child was horribly beaten and says common sense dictates that this was no accident, with the door and vacuum cleaner.
There were also other injuries from other incidents including another child biting her, a scratch on her face allegedly from a puppy, and a burn on her wrist from rubbing against a hot light bulb. Defense Attorney Kelly Driscoll was able to establish that Hickey was not around when these incidents occurred.
If convicted, he can only be sentenced on one of the charges by the state, but the sentencing range if convicted, is 31-to-136 months in prison.
Hickey also has another case pending in front of Judge Tim Chambers. In that case, he’s charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, for threatening Darrell Hickey with a knife. He is also charged with criminal threat for the same incident.
Hickey will face arraignment in this latest case on September 3, also in front of Judge Tim Chambers.