Man accused of breaking infant son's ribs pleads guilty to child abuse charges

Briton Morrison openly wept as he pleaded guilty in Judge David Swartz's courtroom to three charges of second-degree child abuse, which were added in a plea deal. Morrison was originally charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse which will be dismissed at the time of sentencing. He will likely spend between 29 to 57 months in prison, according to the plea agreement. The charge of second-degree child abuse has a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

Police and doctors say Morrison became frustrated and squeezed his son too hard, breaking several ribs, because the boy was constipated.

Prosecutors said the boy, now 5 months old, has recovered.

The plea will affect a second case pertaining to the termination of Morrison's parental rights, attorneys said.

Morrison pleaded guilty to squeezing the boy too hard three separate times, thus the three charges. The abuse happened at a Pittsfield Township apartment in the 3100 block of Woodland Hills.

Morrison was charged in October after an X-ray of the then-2-month-old boy revealed the broken bones and police were sent to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital to investigate.

He will be sentenced on Feb. 28.