A man from the state of Montana was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of aggravated assault against a 13-month-old baby, leaving her blind and with permanent brain damage while she was in his care.

The defendant, Adam Paul Walker, 43 Years old, he received his sentence Thursday in a Yellowstone County court for an attack that occurred in 2018. Although he pleaded not guilty, the judges found sufficient evidence that he violently shook the baby, causing serious injuries that required intensive care.

Injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome

Walker was babysitting the child while her mother was away. He was not the girl's father, but he had a troubled relationship with the mother, as was revealed during the trial. It was the mother herself who noticed her daughter had serious injuries after leaving her in Walker's care.

When Walker called 911, he stated that the baby was breathing slowly and had a "dazed" look. Later, he claimed the girl had fallen and hit her head, a version that was dismissed by doctors.

Specialists at Billings Hospital stated that the child showed clear signs of shaken baby syndrome, and that the injuries could not be attributed to an accidental fall, a pre-existing medical condition, or a reasonable form of discipline.

Irreversible Damage and Total Loss of Vision

The girl survived, but lost virtually all of her vision and suffered severe brain damage. Nearly a decade after the events, she continues to undergo frequent physical and occupational therapy.

“Her brain was completely damaged. Her eyes were so damaged that she lost her sight,” Prosecutor Dean told the court, emphasizing that Walker delayed proper treatment by not telling the truth about what happened.

“She will never be the person she was born to be because of what the defendant did to her,” she stated.

Alcohol, Insults, and Final Sentence

During the investigation,Authorities discovered that Walker was driving under the influence of alcohol on his way to the hospital. It also emerged that he referred to the child with terms like "dog" and "devil child," and even spelled the girl's name offensively in front of medical staff, although his defense claimed he was referring to the mother. Walker's lawyer requested a suspended sentence, arguing that his client suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his service in the Air Force, a request that was denied. Walker will serve 20 years in Montana State Prison, with five years suspended for the aggravated assault charge, plus an additional day in jail for driving under the influence. He left the courthouse in handcuffs after the sentencing.