Two Madisonville residents have facing criminal child abuse charges following investigation by the Madisonville Police Department on Tuesday.
According to the police report, detectives began investigation in a child abuse allegation at a location on Scott Street and determined that Marvin Pascual Lopez of Madisonville had allegedly punched his six-week-old infant in the head while in a physical altercation with his girlfriend.
The infant was flown by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of a fractured skull.
Ashley Phillips of Madisonville allegedly told officers that her 14-year-old son had dropped the child, causing the injuries, but later admitted to fabricating the story. She also reportedly admitted to coercing the 14-year-old into lying to law enforcement and take the blame for the incident.
Lopez is charged with first-degree criminal child abuse and Phillips is charged with first-degree criminal child abuse and intimidating a participant in the legal process.