Microwaved Baby Case

(Galveston, Texas) In May 2007, a 19-year-old father, Joshua Mauldin of Hermitage, Arkansas, was indicted for allegedly placing his two-month-old daughter in a microwave oven and inflicting third-degree burns.

Mauldin later told police he and his family had just arrived in Galveston, where he had hoped to enter the ministry. Left alone with the infant, he reportedly punched the child, placed her into the hotel-room safe and then into the refrigerator before putting the baby in the microwave for at least 10 to 20 seconds.

Mauldin was charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily harm, a crime punishable by a possible 99-year prison term upon conviction.

Doctors had to take skin from the back of the child's head and graft it onto the left side of her face, which suffered third-degree burns. The baby girl has been placed with relatives and is recovering. Joshua Mauldin and his wife, Eva, are barred from having any contact with their daughter.

In the latest development, defense attorney Sam Cammack III said Joshua Mauldin, now 20, will seek to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. A notice of intent to plead insanity has been filed.

Mauldin has previous arrests for battery and violation of a protective order. A high school acquaintance characterized Mauldin as the perennial loner.

Mauldin is scheduled for trial in March 2008.