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Isaac Villalobos, who also goes by Angel M. Carattini-Rivera, pleaded guilty to felony assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 28.
"This was a horrific tragedy," Assistant District Attorney Andrew C. Covington said. "In this case, the Commonwealth wanted to provide a measure of closure for the victim’s family while also holding the defendant accountable for his actions. We feel the best interests of justice were served with this plea and sentencing today."
Police accused Villalobos of dissolving an adult sleeping pill and giving it to his 4-month-old son using an infant syringe in September 2019. The medical examiner ruled the boy died of acute doxylamine intoxication, an over-the-counter medication used to treat insomnia and congestion.
Villalobos attempted to plead guilty earlier this month to an involuntary manslaughter charge, but the judge said the prosecution hadn't met the burden of proof.
"In the evidence presented to the court, this defendant took a single pill — clearly not designed for a 4-month-old — dissolved it, and gave it to the infant,” said Judge Richard Carey, per news reports. "But calling it involuntary manslaughter would be a "quantum leap" based on the evidence."
The prosecutor dropped the manslaughter charge as part of the plea agreement along with counts of reckless endangerment of a child and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child under 14, the DA's office said.
At the time of the killing, Villalobos lived with the baby's mother and several of her other children. Prosecutors said she was at work when he gave the infant the medicine.
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