Minnesota man sentenced in baby’s death

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A Pelican Rapids man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison in the death of his girlfriend’s 5-month-old son.

Thirty-one-year-old Pedro Mendoza told the court Tuesday he pleaded guilty to manslaughter to get the case over with.

Last November Mendoza was caring for the baby while his girlfriend was at work at a turkey plant. He walked to the plant to tell her the baby was not breathing.

Mendoza told police the baby had fallen off the bed. Doctors at the hospital found the child’s injuries were not consistent with his story.

The cause of death is listed as “blunt force head injury and homicide.”

KBRF-AM reports Mendoza will get credit for 317 days served in jail. After his prison term, he will be deported to Guatemala.