A 26-year-old local man was recently sentenced to serve at least the next two years in prison for fracturing the skull of his 7-day-old daughter in 2023.

Kade Michael Jones, of Firth, received a unified 12-year prison term during a sentencing hearing in front of 7th District Judge Bruce Pickett on Tuesday, although he is only required to serve two of those years before being eligible for parole.

Jones in April pleaded guilty to one count of felony aggravated battery stemming from the May 2023 incident that involved him striking his infant child in the face, which caused a traumatic head injury.

This case was handled by Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan W. Jolley, who

recommended a sentence of six years fixed and nine years indeterminate for a unified sentence of 15 years. Jones’ attorney requested a sentence of probation.

Pickett, at the conclusion of argument from both parties, imposed the unified 12-year sentence with two of those years being mandatory.

“My thoughts and prayers remain with the victim in this case for a full and complete

recovery and a happy and healthy future,” Jolley said in a recent news release.

Police records say Jones initially claimed the victim was injured when her 2-year-old sibling kicked her, however, in an interview with police in May 2023 he told officers he had been annoyed with the victim’s crying on March 8.

Jones said the baby’s cries kept getting louder and louder, and that he slapped her on the left side of her head. Jones said he didn’t know why he hit the victim, suggesting it was “sensory overload.”

Jones said he checked the victim for bruising, but did not see any.

The victim was later taken to the hospital, where a doctor determined she should be transferred to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Police said the left side of her head was swollen around the ear.