Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Court records indicate the Stewartville man charged with breaking his infant son's leg earlier this month has two previous convictions involving child abuse.

42-year-old Jeffrey Michael Phillips was arraigned in Olmsted County Court today on three felony charges stemming from an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. The criminal complaint says the investigation began on February 6 when the mother of the 7-week-old child brought the baby to a local medical provider for treatment.

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The court document says she told Rochester police that she tripped over a dog and fell down a set of stairs while holding the child. The charges say the mother later contacted investigators to retract her story and indicated that the infant's father had instructed her to lie.

The Charges Say He Admitted Becoming Angry at the Baby For Making a Fuss

According to the criminal complaint, Phillips admitted that the baby was injured while he was dressing him in a onesie. The court document also states that Phillips told the investigator that he used more force than he meant to because he was angry about the child causing a fuss while he was dressing him.

Phillips was charged with felony counts of third-degree assault, malicious punishment of a child, and domestic assault. The judge in the case agreed to allow for his release from jail with no bail, but with conditions. He is due back in court next month.

Court records show that Phillips was convicted of felony third-degree assault and gross misdemeanor malicious punishment of a child and a gross misdemeanor domestic assault charge in Mower County connected to two incidents involving a different child that occurred in 2022 and 2023.

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