Denver Agency Given Custody of Baby Taken From Medical Center

Custody of an 8-month-old Huntington Beach baby whose parents are suspected of child abuse was awarded to a social services agency by a Denver juvenile court Thursday. The court also ordered that family visits with the child be supervised, an attorney for the family said.

The baby, David Kennedy Jr., allegedly was taken from protective custody at UCI Medical Center in Orange Monday night by his father, David Kennedy Sr., who is believed to be in the Denver area with his wife, Kimberlynn, 24.

Although the infant’s grandparents and a great-grandmother offered to take the child, the judge awarded custody to the Denver Department of Social Services, Denver attorney Shelley Gilman said. The baby’s great-grandmother lives in Denver.

The baby, still bruised and showing evidence of broken bones that are healing, was reported in good condition Thursday at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He was brought to the hospital by a relative about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

“He’s an adorable baby,” said hospital spokesman Thomas Rees. “The comments I’m hearing from the nurses is that he’s a beautiful baby.”

The baby was was taken into protective custody at the UCI Medical Center after his parents brought him there Friday. Upon admission, doctors discovered suspicious injuries, including bruises on much of his body, a potentially fatal subdural hematoma--or bleeding between the skull and the brain --and evidence of broken arms and legs that were healing, Huntington Beach police said.

The baby is expected to be released soon to a county-run children’s shelter in Denver.

A hearing has been set for Aug. 6 in Denver to allow an Orange County social services agency an opportunity to file for custody.

A criminal complaint charging David Kennedy Sr. with felony child endangerment has been filed in Orange County, but Huntington Beach police may allow the parents to return voluntarily, a police spokeswoman said.

When he returns, Kennedy will have other legal problems to face. Orange County Municipal Court criminal records show there are three misdemeanor arrest warrants against him, including one for failing to pay part of a fine after he pleaded no contest to an indecent exposure charge.

Police said Kennedy also is known as David Francis Kennedy, Nicholas Peter Navran and Nicholes Peter Navran.

On Nov. 30, 1984, he was arrested by Irvine police for lewd conduct after he exposed himself, according to authorities. He pleaded no contest on April 10, 1985, and was placed on three years of informal probation and ordered to pay a $350 fine.

Gilman said she was unaware of her client’s criminal warrants in California.

“We’re taking this one step at a time,” she said.

She said the couple wanted to take their baby from UCI Medical Center because he was in an unsafe metal crib with no crib bumpers.

“The parents were also concerned about the baby being left unattended, feces in the child’s hair and the amount of sedation being used without their consent or knowledge,” Gilman said.

Hospital officials denied the allegations.