Published Friday, January 27, 2012 12:20 AM

Man gets 20 years for injury to child

A 19-year-old Grimes County man Thursday got the maximum sentence for a June 2010 incident that left the now two-year-old victim blind and quadriplegic.

Robert Lee Reed Jr. of Navasota was sentenced to 20 years in prison term for the second-degree felony of reckless injury to a child, which he committed when he was 17.

Grimes County District Attorney Tuck McLain said evidence was presented during the trial that Lee caused traumatic head injuries to his 11-month-old victim by shaking her and hitting her head on something.

He said the child struggles to eat and make noise and had to spend time at Texas Children's Hospital.

Grimes County assistant district attorney Andrea Bender asked Judge Albert McCaig of the 506th District Court for the maximum punishment, while Reed's attorney, Arthur C. Washington, asked the judge for probation or less than five years.

Because he had no prior convictions, McLain said Reed was eligible for probation.

A child sexual assault case is still pending against Reed that involves the same baby, McLain said. However, it's unclear if that charge will be pursued.

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