Man indicted on child abuse charges

Bond raised to $30K cash only for suspect Allen Smith

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BROOKINGS – Bond has been increased to $30,000 cash only for a Brookings man accused of critically injuring an 8-month-old boy last month.

The bond increase for 21-year-old Allen T. Smith came after a Brookings County grand jury indicted him on two felony counts Friday.

Aggravated battery of an infant is a Class 2 felony with a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The other charge, a Class 3 felony, is abuse or cruelty to a child younger than 7 years old and is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

Smith has not yet entered pleas to the charges against him.

Authorities say the charges stem from an incident at a Brookings residence on Jan. 30.

Police said the baby was brought to the Brookings Hospital with multiple injuries and in critical condition. He was then airlifted to Sioux Falls. Police allege Smith had been taking care of the child before relatives brought him to the hospital.

Court documents say the injuries to the boy included multiple bruises, healing broken ribs, a fractured skull, a subdural hematoma and more.

A police report alleges that Smith admitted to investigators that he shook and threw the crying baby into a crib, then later found the child “knocked out.” The suspect allegedly told authorities that he attempted CPR then called family for help.

The same police report claims that Smith admitted to harming the boy on four different occasions.

Smith had previously been held in the Brookings County Detention Center on $20,000 cash or surety, and bond was later amended to $20,000 cash only.

On Tuesday, Brookings County State’s Attorney Abigail Howard asked for a bond increase to $50,000 cash only.

Howard said the indictment was for serious felony-level offenses. Smith has no ties to Brookings, is a potential flight and safety risk, and had been living with the victim and his family, she argued.

Defense attorney Rick Ribstein said Smith is originally from Duluth, Minn., and moved to Brookings in 2016. His client has no prior criminal history and is a homebody and a loner, the attorney said.

Asking for bond to stay where it was or to even be reduced, Ribstein said Smith would likely go back to Duluth and live with his mother if he could post it.

Circuit Judge Greg Stoltenburg decided to increase bond to $30,000 cash only.

Smith had already been ordered to have no contact with the victim as the case proceeds, and Stoltenburg this week ordered that Smith have no contact with the victim’s mother as well.

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.