By Guy Page
A Colchester man faces felony charges after police say he intentionally broke multiple bones of a seven week-old infant.
Friday, February 14, the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI) was referred a case by the Vermont Department for Children & Families (DCF) regarding the potential physical abuse of a 7-week-old infant. The child was brought to the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) and discovered to have multiple broken bones.
The child was seen by the UVMMC Child Safe Medical Team and CUSI began an investigation with DCF immediately. Detective Tom Chenette was assigned to this investigation along with a Family Services Worker from the DCF Burlington District Office.
A CUSI statement said the investigation developed probable cause to believe that the child’s father, Joshua Richland, caused these injuries through his own intentional actions. Richland was arrested without incident at his Colchester home on Saturday, February 15, and taken into custody for processing. Richland was later ordered to be released on Court Conditions by a Superior Court Judge. Richland’s initial court arraignment is currently scheduled for Tuesday, February 18.
Conviction of Cruelty to a Child resulting in Serious Bodily Injury carries a prison sentence of not more than 10 years or fined not more than $20,000, or both. A person who commits the crime of Aggravated first degree Domestic Assault shall be imprisoned for not more than 15 years or fined not more than $25,000, or both, police say.
Richland’s LinkedIn page claims he is a “Security Operations Center Analyst II at NuHarbor Security.”
