A U.S. Marine stationed in Twentynine Palms is behind bars Wednesday, accused of beating an infant girl so badly that she slipped into a coma.
John Rafeal Jeter, 24, of Joshua Tree, is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail for allegedly injuring his girlfriend’s baby daughter.
On Nov. 19, the 5-month-old girl was taken to High Desert Medical Center suffering from a brain hemorrhage, and was flown to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in a coma, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Jeter was charged with assault resulting in death, comatose state or paralysis of a child under 8 years of age. He pleaded not guilty to all counts on Nov. 25, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.
No other details of the assault were immediately available.
Jeter is due to appear in Morongo Basin Superior Court Dec. 9, according to the sheriff's department.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jacob Gault or Sgt. Dana Foster at 909-387-3615.
