GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gastonia man blamed stress at work for leading him to shake and throw a five-month-old boy he was babysitting last month.
Juan Muniz made the admission as he apologized to a judge during his first court appearance Thursday afternoon on felony child abuse charges.
"I'm sorry," Muniz said. "It was by accident. I didn't [mean] to do it. It was so much stress from work and everything."
Prosecutors said Muniz was tasked with caring for the baby during the day while the child's parents were out last November.
Assistant District Attorney Zach Holeve said Muniz is the fiancee of the child's grandmother.
Holeve said in two separate incidents over a two-day period, Muniz shook and threw the baby.
Holeve said the baby became unresponsive after being thrown, which led to someone in the apartment calling 911 for help.
Officers didn't arrest Muniz until earlier this week.
In Muniz's arrest warrants, detectives said the child suffered traumatic brain injuries, a fractured skull and respiratory failure.
Muniz remains in jail under a $750,000 secured bond.
NBC Charlotte is working to confirm the baby's medical condition, and how he's progressing in his recovery.