Heltonville Man Pleads Guilty to Child Neglect

(BEDFORD) – Last week, 26-year-old Joseph Glover, of Heltonville, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury to a baby.

Joseph Glover

Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III gave Glover credit for 671 days served.

In April 2018, Glover was arrested on a warrant after a baby was seriously injured in April 2017.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on April 14, 2017, Bedford Police officers were called to St. Vincent Dunn Hospital after a baby was being treated for bruising and swelling to the head, multiple skull fractures, and rib fractures.

The baby was rushed to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where medical staff determined the injuries occurred during two separate incidents.

Cassandra Longest

The baby’s mother, Cassandra Longest, told Bedford Police that she had left her baby in the care of her live-in boyfriend Joseph Glover multiple times between April 11 and April 14, 2017 while she was at work.

Longest told police that on April 11th, Glover texted her saying he had almost dropped the baby. Longest told police she noticed a bruise on the child’s face, which her boyfriend told her was from catching the baby by the head.

Police say Longest nor Glover took the baby for medical treatment.

Longest then told police that on April 14, 2017, she had attempted to enter the baby’s room and found it locked. She told police she eventually got into the room and noticed more bruises and swelling on the baby’s face. Grover asked Longest not to take the child for treatment.

According to the affidavit, Longest told police she allowed Grover to care for the child even though she knew he was taking drugs at the time.

Longest, 26, is facing one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, a Level 3 felony. A pre-trial is set for Feb. 18th and a jury trial is set for March 9th at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Plummer in Lawrence Superior Court I.