11-24-10 —   The case of a father accused of assaulting his infant son has been waived to the Wayne County Grand Jury, following a hearing on Wednesday,  November 24 in Wayne District Court.

    Zachary Wiater appeared before District Judge Mike Lawson for a preliminary hearing in the case. Wiater has been charged with first degree assault in connection with the injuries that his six-week-old son sustained on October 26.

    Police and social services were called into the investigation soon after the child was taken to the hospital, according to testimony that was presented during last week’s hearing. Detective Derek Lester, with the Monticello Police Department, was questioned during the hearing and related events that occurred on October 26.

    Lester said he was called to the Wayne County Emergency Room. Lester said that doctors related to him that the six-week-old had suffered injuries that were suspicious in nature.

    Lester said he interviewed the parents and the mother of the child stated that she had gone to the laundromat and had left the baby in the care of his father. Wiater told Lester during the interview that the baby was choking and said he jostled the child.

    The baby was transferred from Wayne County to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Lester was questioned regarding medical records on the child from the University of Kentucky which indicated the boy had suffered head trauma that was consistent with being shaken.

    Lester also testified that in a statement made later to police, Wiater said he had shaken the baby on one other occasion and the mother had no knowledge of it.

    Testimony last week revealed that the baby has been released from the University of Kentucky Medical Center and has been placed in foster care. Attorneys for Wiater requested that he be released on a surety bond, but that was denied by Lawson.

    He opted to keep bond at $20,000 cash and then waived the case to the grand jury.

    Wiater was taken into custody in Fayette County on November 6. He was transported to the Wayne County Detention Center on November 10.