QUEENSBURY, N.Y. - David Cook, the Glens Falls man charged with abusing a 7-week-old baby girl, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault in Warren County Court Wednesday, officials tell NEWS10.
Cook, 33, pleaded guilty to satisfy all other charges he was originally facing after the March 2012 incident, including lesser charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse 2nd-degree, Assault 2nd-degree, Strangulation 2nd-degree, Assault 3rd-degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation.
Cook will face the maximum sentence of 25 years behind bars for the plea, in addition to five years post-release supervision and paying medical restitution. He will be sentenced on August 15th.
Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan tells NEWS10 she supported the guilty plea to the single charge as it waived Cook's right to appeal, thereby ensuring the harshest sentence. It also prevented witnesses from having to testify, she said.
Police say the alleged physical and sexual abuse took place at Cook's home while the baby was in his care for several days. The baby girl's 20-year-old mother left the child with him while she was away and when she returned she noticed the injuries.
Police say the baby sustained a broken right leg, injuries to her genitalia, and head injury.
In a statement Cook made to police, he said he was angry while he was changing the baby's diaper and "pulled hard on her right foot." He told police "I heard a pop, and I tried to put her leg back." He also went on to say he was "cleaning the baby and did not have sex with [her]."
Cook's ex-wife, Susan Ramirez, not the mother of the abused 7-week-old
baby, says while her marriage with him ended years ago, she feels as
though his plea is justice for her own family as well. "This is just what he deserves," says Ramirez.
This is the second time NEWS10 has spoken with Ramirez, formerly Susan Cook, in a year. Last March, Ramirez told NEWS10 she was horrified by the allegations against Cook, but also not surprised.
Ramirez says she and her young son suffered
five years of continuous physical and sexual abuse by Cook, and after her
divorce a supreme court judge offered her an order of protection.
"He would never man up and say I did this, I am sorry," she said. Ramirez says that's why she is surprised Cook pled guilty.
Ramirez says while she was able to finally escape her alleged abuse, she feels nothing but sadness for the young child. "He injured this child to the point where she
is going to have life-long difficulties," says Ramirez. "How is that
fair? How does 25 years equal life-long difficulties? There's no balance
there."
NEWS10 ABC
