Anthony Carpinelli, 23, is scheduled to enter guilty pleas on two counts of aggravated assault at York County Superior Court before Justice Wayne Douglas, according to Assistant District Attorney Thaddeus West.
The alleged assault occurred on May 2, 2014, while Carpinelli was caring for his children in a Bates Street apartment in Sanford. The babies were born prematurely in March 2014, and Carpinelli and his girlfriend, Nichole Morrill – the babies’ mother – were staying with one of Morrill’s family members.
Carpinelli is accused of shaking his infant daughter and bruising the head and face of his son while Morrill was out. She returned home to find them in distress and took them to Sanford Medical Center of Southern Maine Health Care, according to Sanford Police.
The hospital notified the Department of Health and Human Services, which in turn notified Sanford Police. Carpinelli was arrested a few days later.
The babies were transferred to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, where they were treated before being released within a few days.
At the time of Carpinelli’s arrest, Officer Sarah Roberts said the babies had serious injuries caused by inflicted head trauma.
West said he recently visited the twins, who are now 2 years old.
“They’re doing better than what I would expect,” said West. “Hopefully, those kids will grow up and live close to normal lives.”
Morrill, who has identified the babies as Haiden and Willow, was unable to be reached for comment for this story.
The aggravated assault charges are Class B felonies, which carry a maximum prison term of 10 years.
Carpinelli has been incarcerated at York County Jail since his arrest, as he has been unable to make $25,000 cash bail. He was originally indicted on two aggravated assault charges, two assault charges and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Carpinelli wrote on his Facebook page prior to his arrest that he graduated from high school in Greenfield, Indiana, in 2010 and once lived in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].
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