New Bedford Man Deemed Dangerous in Infant Abuse Case

NEW BEDFORD — A 31-year-old New Bedford man indicted late last year for assaulting, endangering and neglecting his infant daughter was found dangerous and ordered held without bail pending trial in Fall River Superior Court last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Robert P. Trommenschlager was indicted by a Bristol County Grand Jury in November on charges of reckless endangerment of a child, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child, retaliating against a witness, and assault and battery.

After being arraigned on the indictment in December, the defendant was the subject of a Superior Court Dangerousness Hearing on January 11^th.  On January 15^th, Judge Raffi Yessayan found the defendant to be a danger and ordered him held without bail.

In May 2017, DCF was called regarding possible child neglect involving the defendant and his 2-month-old daughter.  DCF investigators went to the defendant’s home and knocked on the door several times, but received no response.  When the mother of the child eventually came home and let the DCF investigators inside the home, they immediately noticed smoke filling the entire apartment. DCF investigators reported that the smoke was not from cigarettes or marijuana. they said it wasn't cigarette smoke or pot smoke.

Investigators eventually entered the bedroom and found the 2-month-old baby sitting alone in a swinging chair.  The defendant then showed up at the apartment while DCF were inside.

DCF took the child to a daycare and had her washed.  While washing the baby, they noticed what appeared to be burn marks on her and bruising along her back and the back of her head.  The child was taken to an area hospital where doctors found a laceration in the back of the baby’s throat, consistent with a blunt object being forced into her mouth.

On a subsequent jail call the defendant made to the mother of the child, he is heard trying to convince her to take the blame because his criminal record is bad and will likely face a stiffer prison sentence if convicted.

The defendant is due back in court for trial date assignment on March 27.

The accusations against the defendant are only allegations at this time. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

“I am pleased the court ruled this defendant is a danger to the community and to the child based on these very serious and disturbing allegations,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The facts of the case and the defendant’s criminal record clearly establish that he should be detained without bail pending trial.”

— Bristol County District Attorney's Office