Iara Dossantos Bomfim, a 29-year-old nanny in Irvine, California, faces 10 felony counts of child abuse after a nanny camera recorded her abusing a 3-month-old infant in her care, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
The baby's mother discovered the alleged abuse when she heard the infant crying and checked on him. Bomfim told her everything was fine, but nanny cam footage from July 11 showed Bomfim "sitting on a yoga ball and violently bouncing the baby as his head and neck bounced back and forth and side to side." The footage also allegedly captured Bomfim punching the baby in the back of the head, according to prosecutors.
A review of additional footage revealed Bomfim "violently punching, hitting, and shaking the baby" repeatedly over nearly a month. The video also showed her allowing the boy to fall "headfirst" off a bed and in another instance forcefully throwing him onto the bed.
After being confronted about her conduct, Bomfim fled to Brazil. She allegedly attempted to establish another online account advertising nanny services before the Irvine Police Department arrested her upon her return to California on October 23.
Bomfim pleaded not guilty and remains held at the Orange County Jail on $500,000 bond. If convicted, she faces 18 years in prison.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated in a statement that parents should fully vet anyone around their children and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.