Infant assault arrest in Canajoharie result of dogged police work, DA says

PHOTOGRAPHER: File Photo

Canajoharie Village Court

CANAJOHARIE – Dogged police work by a state police investigator led to the arrest of a Canajoharie man last week in connection with serious injuries suffered by a 9-month-old girl in March, Montgomery County District Attorney Kelli McCoski said Wednesday.

Authorities also characterized the injuries suffered by the child, now 16 months old, as lifelong injuries.

Zachary P. Folts, 23, was arrested last week and charged with one count of reckless assault on a child, a felony.

He is accused of assaulting the baby girl in his care the evening of March 6 in Canajoharie. McCoski identified Folts as the boyfriend of the baby’s mother.

The child was airlifted to Albany Medical Center that evening after a call for a child who was unresponsive, state police have said. It was unclear Wednesday who made the initial call.

The child suffered intracranial hemorrhaging as a result of Folts’ actions, state police allege in documents filed in court. The charging paperwork does not indicate how Folts is accused of injuring the child, beyond what the reckless assault statute defines.

The statute defines reckless assault of a child as shaking, slamming or throwing the child so the child’s head hit a hard surface or object.

State police took Folts into custody Oct. 10, just over seven months after the child was injured.

The district attorney credited state police Inv. Samuel J. Lizzio for doggedly working the case and bringing it to the point of arrest.

“He has worked tirelessly on this case,” McCoski said.

That work included meeting with doctors at Albany Medical Center and with experts. Once they had everything needed, authorities brought the assault charge, McCoski said.

Folts was arraigned and released on $2,500 bail. He is due back in court later this month. An attorney listed for him could not be reached for comment this week.