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The 28-year-old officer and soldier, Steven Kyle Cugini turned himself in at PSP Lykens Stations following an investigation that began when the baby girl's injuries were noticed by the staff at the Halifax YMCA Daycare on Monday, April 15, a detailed in court documents obtained by Daily Voice.
**WARNING: These details are disturbing**
After noticing the unusual bruises on the infant's face and legs and the mom's inconclusive responses on the phone, the YMCA staff contacted the state police, according to the affidavit of probable cause. That's when PSP Lykens Criminal Investigation Unit began to follow up with the family.
When the baby was taken to the hospital for her broken tibia and fibula, bruising on her face, ears, left foot, ankle, butt, and genitals — "significant injuries" to genitals were noted by a doctor to troopers, PSP stated in the affidavit.
The mother, who is named in the court documents, is accused of helping cover up the abuse, but no charges have been filed against her. She originally backed Cugini's claims of diaper rash, a fall, and an incident involving the family dog causing the injuries, but text messages showed she had confronted him about the bruises, as explained in the affidavit. Soon the mom admitted to PSP that she permitted Cugini to bathe her daughter on the night of April 13 while she made dinner. He had locked the bathroom door supposedly to keep her 5-year-old son out, but while cooking the mom heard her daughter "cry very loudly" and "repeated pounding," as stated in the affidavit. When she knocked the door it allegedly took 10 seconds for Cugini to answer and his shirt was wet, although she told police that his pants were on, according to the affidavit.
During a police interview Cugini admitted to caring for the child and bathing her but stood by the claim that the bruising on her butt and genitals was due to diaper rash citing "similar injuries on his own daughter," the police stated in the affidavit. Cugini is a father to young twin girls, according to public records and social media.
Cugini was charged with three felonies for Rape of Child, Aggravated Indecent Assault of Child, and Aggravated Assault - Attempts to cause Serious Bodily Injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, as stated in his court docket.
He has been held in the York County Prison on $200,000 as set in night court by Magisterial District Judge Paul T. Zozos at 10:15 p.m. on April 16, as detailed in his docket.
"Per our protocol the individual has been immediately suspended as the investigation continues and the City looks to take the appropriate action" Commissioner Michael Muldrow stated in a release. He went on to say the following:
"As everyone knows, I will always be the first to fight and advocate for our people; but they also know (1) how I feel about kids, and (2) that I hold my Officers to the highest of standards (when it comes to representing this Department and engaging with the community)... And if these allegations are founded, trust and believe I'll be the first to take swift and definitive action against them."
Cugini's preliminary hearing is set before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum at 9 a.m. on May 1.
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