A Penngrove couple whose 3-month-old daughter was discovered by health care providers to have multiple broken bones throughout her body pleaded not guilty Friday to felony child abuse charges.
Lyndsay Patricia Colula, 20, and Jesus Daniel Colula, 26, appeared in blue jail uniforms for their arraignment on the two-count complaint. If convicted, each faces a maximum 12 years in prison.
The couple was arrested Tuesday after they brought the infant to a local clinic for a well-baby checkup. Child Protective Services was alerted and the baby was examined at Oakland Children's Hospital.
The baby had one limb that was completely broken and other, lesser fractures, as well as bruises and a contusion, all apparently a week or more old, said Sgt. Cecile Focha, who supervises investigations in the sheriff's domestic violence unit.
It appeared the couple never sought medical attention for the injuries, Focha said.
Prosecutor Rosanne Darling said the infant was hurt as early as May 18 when she was about 2 months old. She would not discuss the exact cause but said it did not appear to be the result of an accident.
"The injuries to the infant were extreme," Darling said.
Judge Robert LaForge increased bail on each to $65,000 and set a preliminary hearing for June 18. Jesus Colula faced a federal immigration hold.
The parents were arrested around 5 p.m. Tuesday during a search of their Sturtevant Drive home in Penngrove.
They are charged with felony child endangerment causing great bodily injury and inflicting cruel and inhuman corporal punishment on a child, Darling said.
They entered their pleas after receiving court-appointed lawyers.
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