Lang
7/25/26
A West Branch man faces the possibility of decades in prison on felony child endangerment charges after he allegedly bit his baby.
25-year-old Jose Fernandez-Sarinana of Kiersten Lane was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 5:45 Friday night. University of Iowa Police say Fernandez-Sarinana brought his 72-month-old child to the UI Health Care Emergency Department on Hawkins Drive in Iowa City on the afternoon of April 5th. The child had suffered various injuries, and Fernandez-Sarinana gave what was described as an “easily disprovable” explanation for a bite mark on the child’s cheek that left bruises that lasted for days. Fernandez-Sarinana later reportedly admitted to biting the child himself. He was charged with Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury.
An investigation led to a second charge of Ongoing Acts of Child Endangerment due to events at a residence in Swisher between March 1st and the time Fernandez-Sarinana brought the child to the hospital.
Fernandez-Sarinana faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted on both counts.