Father accused of burning baby with blow dryer

A 20-year-old Webster man is accused of burning his 9-month-old daughter with a blow dryer after the baby was found with burns on her body, court records show.

Anthony Bastida is in custody, charged with injury to a child after the baby's mother discovered circular burn marks on May 8 at the family's home on 15900 Highway 3, according to court documents from the Harris County District Court.

On May 8, the child's mother went to the store, leaving her husband Bastida alone with her daughter. About an hour later, she returned to their house, gathered their things and went on a trip to Louisiana. During the drive, she noticed the burn marks on her daughter's face, the document states.

She told police that she later noticed that there were more burns on the child's legs, nose, on the inside and outside of her legs and left side of her ear. She told police that she also noticed her daughter had a bruised eye, the document states.

The mother asked Bastida what happened and he said he left a blow dryer on next to the child while he was using the restroom. Bastida explained the bruised eye by saying the child had rubbed her face on a cell phone while she was sleeping, the document states.

Bastida later told investigators that he was careless when he left the blow dryer next to his daughter. He said when he came out of the rest room, the baby was on her back crying with the nozzle of the dryer pointing directly at her. He told police he did not notice the burn marks immediately.

After the child was taken to Texas Children's Hospital, doctors discovered three burn marks each completely circular, on of her left cheek, one on her left inner thigh and one on her right upper thigh. A doctor with the hospital told investigators that the child's injuries are consistent with child abuse and that the suspect's explanation did not explain her injuries.