A 23-year-old Leavenworth man has pleaded guilty to aggravated battery after admitting to biting a baby, according to a news release from the Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office.

Benjamin Frederick Douglas Oaks admitted to a Leavenworth police detective that, on several occasions, he bit the victim, whom he was caring for when the abuse happened.

On June 9, 2023, the Leavenworth Police Department was contacted by a social worker at a Kansas City area hospital concerning a child under the age of 1 who was believed to have been abused. According to court documents, the social worker noted bruising on the victim’s body consistent with human bite marks.

During an interview with a Leavenworth police detective, Oaks confessed to causing the injuries. He admitted to biting the child once while she was crying and also admitted to using his teeth to grip the child’s arm to steady the child while changing a diaper.

“I don’t have words I can use to discuss this unfathomable crime,” Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in the release. “I will say this office will never tolerate the abuse of our youth. We are thankful for the medical staff, social workers, mandatory reporters, and law enforcement for their vigilant effort to protect our children.”

The case is scheduled for sentencing on April 19.