Springfield Man Will Stand Trial For Allegedly Assaulting Girlfriend's Toddler Son:

John Ross Albert

A Springfield man accused of causing serious injuries to his girlfriend's two-and-a-half year-old son in June will stand trial for assault and child abuse.

Prosecutor's allege that John Ross Albert picked the little boy up by his abdomen, "squeezed him " and threw him at least seven times into a "timeout chair" ( from distances between 5 - 8 feet) for taking diapers out of his diaper bag. 

Albert stated that the last time he threw the little boy, he sat in the chair and didn't say anything and when he would squeeze his abdomen he would grunt and make facial gestures like it was hurting him.

The toddler, who suffered numerous internal injuries as well as broken ribs, was flown to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where doctor's removed a significant portion of the little boy's colon.  He also suffered lacerations to the pancreas as well as bruises on his back and sternum.

Doctor's treating the boy say his injuries were caused by acute blunt force trauma and probably had not occurred that day but within the previous 24 hours.

According to court records, Albert told investigators he was just "trying to be a father figure" to the boy.  He also claims the little boy's rib fractures, which were in various stages of healing, could have been caused from him hugging the toddler "tightly."

When confronted with the severity of the little boy's injures Albert denied hitting, kicking, or punching the little boy and then invoked his right to remain silent.

Albert, who is being held on $250,000 bond, will be arraigned in circuit court on August 12th.