Long Island Man Convicted In Beating Death Of Toddler Son

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island man has been found guilty in the death of his newborn son.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, the baby boy was just a little over a month old when authorities said they found him dead with a fractured skull and multiple broken bones in October, 2011.

A jury found the newborn's father, Christopher Foster, guilty of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child on Friday. Foster, however, was acquitted of the top charge of second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said Foster never wanted little Jonathan Hertzler and broke up with his girlfriend after she refused to have an abortion. But after meeting his son when the baby was three weeks old, he decided to move in with the child's mother.

Prosecutors said Foster would become frustrated when the infant cried and later beat the child to death.

A medical examiner said that there was evidence that bruises were inflicted the night before the boy was killed and that multiple blows caused the fatal injuries.

Foster's defense lawyer said his client is innocent and will appeal. He said there was no evidence that Foster was the person who caused the baby's injuries and suggested other people may have caused the child's death.

The 32-year-old is set to be sentenced on Sept. 8. He faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.

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