Father charged with murder by child abuse in 3-month-old son’s death

By Tiffany Gibson

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | 7:27 p.m.

Metro Police / Courtesy of

Andrew Mendoza

A 21-year-old Las Vegas man accused of beating and biting his 3-month-old son has been charged with murder by child abuse in the boy’s death, authorities said.

Andrew Mendoza also faces four counts of child abuse with substantial bodily harm and two counts of child endangerment.

His son Angel was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition Feb. 22 after Metro Police responded to the 3900 block of South Decatur Boulevard to investigate a report of an unresponsive infant.

The child died March 18, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

An investigation revealed the infant suffered blunt force abdominal trauma and multiple injuries consistent with human bites, police said.

Medical personnel advised officers that Angel had a non-displacement fracture to the head, a laceration to the liver and internal bleeding that could have been caused by his extensive injuries.

The police report also said the infant had three small bruises on the forehead, bruising to both inner thighs, additional small circular bruises on the back, abdomen and head, as well as a small laceration to his right earlobe and adult-sized bite marks on his right arm, lower chest, right ankle and lower back.

Authorities said Mendoza told officers he often bit, punched and pinched his son in various places. He said he also threw bottles at his son’s head when the boy refused to eat, the police report said.

Mendoza said he held Angel against his chest with both arms, squeezing him so tight that the boy vomited on him in late February, police said.

Authorities said Mendoza explained the bruises to the boy’s thighs were from pinches. He reportedly told officers he pinched Angels’ thighs because the boy wouldn’t stay still when he changed his diaper.

An arrest report said officers also found seven plastic bags of marijuana during an inspection of the residence.

Mendoza said the marijuana belonged to him, and he smoked while taking care of Angel, police said.

Police said 14.5 grams of marijuana and two pipes were seized from the residence. No drug charges have been brought against Mendoza.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 14. He is being held in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.