DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) - A May 4 sentencing has been scheduled for a Dubuque man who neglected to properly care for his girlfriend’s baby.
The Telegraph Herald reported that Mark Ward, 28, pleaded guilty to felony neglect of a dependent person.
Ward and his girlfriend, Iesha Searcy, 29, were arrested in February 2018. The two were the primary caregivers of Searcy’s then 9-month-old daughter.
The girl weighed less than 11 pounds (5 kilograms) when seen by a dietitian on Aug. 15, 2018, court documents say. The infant was hospitalized two days later, and a doctor found her to be “severely malnourished.”
The baby quickly gained weight while being properly fed in the hospital, authorities said.
Searcy has pleaded not guilty, and her trial is scheduled to begin March 31.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.