Father gets 13 years to life for attempting to kill infant

A Costa Mesa man who tortured and tried to kill his 2-month-old son was sentenced Friday to 13 years to life in state prison, the Orange County district attorney’s office announced.

Last month, a jury convicted Joshua Allen Robey, 26, of attempting to murder his son by using a blanket like a noose to swing the child by his neck.

Robey was living in a Costa Mesa motel at the time, while his son lived with his mother and grandmother in Anaheim.

In October 2011, a hidden camera recorded Robey repeatedly punching, strangling and shaking the infant while babysitting in Anaheim. The baby’s mother set up the camera because she suspected Robey was cheating on her but instead captured the abuse.

Video showed Robey punching the baby with both fists, lifting him into the air by the throat while shaking him and trying to suffocate the child with a blanket or tape on his nose and mouth, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

The baby’s mother observed the abuse recorded on the hidden camera, and the child’s grandmother took the child to the hospital.

Hospital staff informed police and treated the 2-month-old for fractured ribs, bleeding to the brain and other internal injuries.

In addition to attempted murder, jurors convicted Robey of torture, child abuse and various sentencing enhancements.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck