The family of a Lady Lake man arrested after his daughter suffered a brain bleed has issued a statement through an attorney blaming a state agency for the man’s arrest.
The Department of Children and Families contacted the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office on Friday after the four-month-old female suffering a brain bleed was taken to The Villages Regional Hospital. The baby was having seizures and was transferred to Nemours Children’s Medical Center in Orlando.
The mother and 34-year-old Benjamin Weingard were interviewed at the hospital in Orlando and summoned the following day to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at Pinellas Plaza in The Villages. The mother provided her account of what had happened. Weingard asked for a lawyer and declined to give a statement.
An investigation revealed that over two weeks, Weingard squeezed the infant, resulting in the infant losing consciousness and suffering multiple brain bleeds, bleeding in the cervical spinal area and possible ligament damage to her neck.
Attorney Jody Fisher, who is representing Weingard, issued the following statement Thursday:
“Hannah is still recovering from a brain bleed she suffered on June 7, 2019. The prognosis for a full recovery appears good. Unfortunately, family services got involved and initiated inquires requiring Mr. Weingard to retain an attorney. The entire family is supportive and very confident that things will work out. The legal proceedings prevent the family from discussing anything at this time. We ask that everyone be respectful of this.”
Weingard is facing two felony counts of aggravated child abuse. He remains free on $10,000 bond. His lawyer has entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.