Bond reduced in man's child abuse case

Bail for a Whitefish man accused of forcing his girlfriend's 5-year-old child into a bathtub full of scalding water, severely burning the boy, has been reduced to $50,000.

Juan Miguel Vasquez, 28, previously had been required to post $120,000 bail before being released.

Following an order from the Montana Supreme Court, Flathead County District Court Judge Stewart E. Stadler took Vasquez's financial situation into account during the hearing Thursday.

Vasquez's father testified briefly about the limited financial resources he and his family could contribute.

Should he post bond, Vasquez must appear in front of a judge before being released.

At a previous bond reduction hearing, Vasquez - who has limited mobility from a serious back injury and has extensive family connections in Northwest Montana - testified he was not a flight risk.

Prosecutors, however, pointed out the severity of the aggravated assault and criminal endangerment charges against Vasquez and requested that he remain in custody.

The Whitefish Police Department responded to the boy's Ramsey Avenue residence on Oct. 24, 2008 and discovered the severely burned boy.

The boy, who suffered second- and third-degree burns to more than 40 percent of his body, was treated for three months at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

In interviews with a detective from the Seattle Police Department, the boy said that Vasquez put him in the bathtub of scalding water and then forced him to stay there, despite his screams.

According to court documents, a doctor and child-abuse expert at Harborview told investigators the pattern of burns on the boy's body is consistent with forced immersion.

Vasquez also is facing one count of fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs, a felony.

He allegedly signed for three of his girlfriend's prescriptions in her name at a Whitefish pharmacy while she was out of state at the hospital with her injured son.

Vasquez's girlfriend told investigators she did not receive the prescriptions - which included painkillers and sleeping pills - and they were not found at their residence.

If convicted of abusing the boy, Vasquez could face as long as 30 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

He could face an additional five years in prison and $50,000 in fines in convicted of the drug charges.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com