Photo: Matthew Hunt
The night of August 3rd , Porterville Police Officers responded to an unreleased address in the city of Porterville regarding an unresponsive child. First responders determined the severe injuries to the face and upper torso of this 1-year old toddler were caused from being physically assaulted.
Accompanied by his mom, the child was taken to Sierra View Medical Center by ambulance to
receive treatment.
Due to the nature of the case, detectives were called in to investigate. Through witness
statements and an executed search warrant, detectives identified the suspect as 23-year old
Matthew Hunt.
During the investigation, it was revealed Hunt was also abusive towards the mother of the child. Hunt was previously arrested in August for disobeying a domestic relations court order, corporal injury of a spouse, battery, public intoxication, criminal threats, and cruelty to a
child by inflicting injury.
He was booked into the custody of the Tulare County Sheriff. As of this writing, he remains in custody at the Adult Pre-Trial Facility in Visalia. His bail is set at $275,000.
The toddler has since been released from Sierra Valley Medical Center.
Photo from the Porterville Police Department
