State v. Higgins

This is an appeal by defendant from a judgment of the court of common pleas finding defendant guilty of felonious assault and child endangering.

Defendant, Thomas Higgins, was babysitting the two youngest children of Michael and Linda Allen on Sunday, October 26, 1986. Apparently, defendant had been a close family friend of the Allens for five years and had periodically watched each of the four Allen children, especially two-year-old Amanda and nine-month-old Sean. On the night in question, while baby-sitting Amanda, she suffered extensive bruises and a broken right leg.

The next day, defendant…