Dover man faces life in prison in beating, shaken baby case

Shaun Ch

DOVER - A Dover man accused of seriously injuring an infant is facing what amounts to a life sentence after his indictment by a Strafford County grand jury.

Shaun Champey, 30, of 7 High Ridge Drive, was charged with five counts of first-degree assault and one charge of second-degree assault on the baby girl during the time between when she was born in February and March 16.

Dover Police got involved on March 17 when they and the Division of Children, Youth, and Families were notified by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital staff of a suspicious injury to a baby girl.

The victim had been brought to the hospital by her mother and was determined to have a fractured femur.

Detectives from the department's Special Investigations Unit, along with child protective workers from DCYF conducted an investigation at the hospital and determined that the injury was caused by Champey while he was providing care for the infant.

The six indictments allege he caused fractures to the girl's tibia and femur in her left leg, as well as fractures to her right leg, ribs and shoulder.

Detectives also determined Champey had violently shaken the baby on several occasions. He was arrested on March 30.

Each first degree assault is punishable by up to 30 years in state prison.

Champey was released on bail on Aug. 31 under supervision by Community Corrections, Strafford County Jail personnel confirmed today.

The Strafford County grand jury indictments were released on Aug. 28.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather that enough evidence has been presented to warrant moving forward to trial.