Crime & Safety
Babysitter Gets Probation for Assault, Child Endangerment
Cindy Berdick of Bensalem is banned from babysitting as part of a plea deal.
A Bensalem babysitter was sentenced to five years probation and is banned from babysitting, according to reports.
Cindy Berdick, 41, pleaded guilty to simple assault and child endangerment in Bucks County Court on Monday, according to both CBS Philly and PhillyBurbs.
Berdick, who is a mother of three, admitted to assaulting a 4-month-old boy who was in her care last year after he suffered a near-fatal brain injury, CBS Philly reported. She didn't speak in court and offered no explanation as to why she harmed the baby.
Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
During the investigation, Berdick told detectives that the baby had been crying hysterically for 90 minutes before his arms and legs went stiff and his eyes rolled back in his head, CBS reported.
The 4-month-old was brought to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, according to both articles, where doctors found symptoms of shaken baby syndrome.
Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shaken baby syndrome is a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler, according to information from the Mayo Clinic. It can result in permanent brain damage or death.
Prosecutor Monica Furber told PhillyBurbs that the child's parents agreed to the plea deal because they didn't want to go through a trial and "just want to move forward."
Read the full story on CBS Philly and PhillyBurbs.
