A Providence Township man was sentenced to seven to 15 years after he pleaded guilty last month to violently shaking a two-month-old baby, seriously injuring it.

Judge David Ashworth sentenced Michael Robert McDonald, 31, after he pleaded guilty Dec. 18 to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of endangering the welfare of children.

McDonald shook the infant in frustration twice at his residence in the first block of Parkview Street in May 2025

The infant suffered a severe brain injury as a result of McDonald’s actions, which will likely cause permanent, lasting impact. Additionally, physicians also found the infant had suffered retinal hemorrhages and fractured ribs.

When initially questioned by police, McDonald explained that the infant had fallen off his bed, though physicians determined that the abusive head trauma that baby had suffered was not consistent with a fall.

Questioned again, McDonald then claimed he had tripped on a rug while carrying the baby before eventually admitting he had shaken the infant in his hands “pretty hard” on two occasions several weeks apart.

Police began investigating McDonald after he brought the infant to a local hospital in late May.

Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick prosecuted the case.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Brian McNally filed the charges.