An Atlantic City man whose naked attack on a baby was captured on video was ordered held pending trial Thursday.
Stephon Whitfield, 28, is accused of picking up the 9-month-old boy out of his stroller and then slamming him down during the incident Monday night in front of Carver Hall, where he lives.
Assistant Prosecutor Sean Ruckenstein called what happened shocking and told Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Waldman that Whitfield "clearly poses a threat" to the community.
"There's no question that Mr. Whitfield was heavily under the influence of drugs," defense attorney Stephen Funk said, adding that Whitfield was hospitalized for a time after.
He said Whitfield was getting treatment for his drug problem through Volunteers of America.
Several witnesses told police Whitfield was high on phencyclidine or PCP.
Last year, Whitfield was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to PCP possession.
He also has a pending simple assault charge, the judge said, reading from Whitfield's criminal history. He called his juvenile record "significant," which also included assaults.
He has 12 failures to appear for court, including five times in the past two years, according to the public safety assessment, which helps determine whether a defendant should be released under bail reform.
He also scored a six out of six for likelihood to commit a new offense, and was flagged for violence.
Whitfield is employed at Ocean Resort in housekeeping, Funk said.
Two of Whitfield's children live with him along with his wife's five children. He has five other children who live with their mothers, Funk said.
Whitfield did not know the baby who was attacked, according to information released in court.
The baby boy suffered bruises, cuts and swelling, and lost teeth in the attack.
Whitfield was seen asking a sheriff's officer about a reporter filming the proceedings. He turned away from the camera in his seat. As he spoke to the officer during the hearing, the judge stopped talking.
"I'm sorry, I apologize," Whitfield told the judge, his long braids obscuring his face.
