STANLEY, N.D. — The 24-year-old Fargo man who pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the November 2018 death of his girlfriend's 6-month-old son received a 35-year sentence Thursday, Aug. 8, in Mountrail County District Court.





Cody Allen Faltersack will serve more than 23 years in prison and has been ordered to pay for funeral and medical expenses resulting from the infant's death. The court has also issued a no-contact order forbidding Faltersack from contacting the victim's mother or her children.





Faltersack pleaded guilty to Class AA felony murder on May 30. He was originally charged with Class B felony manslaughter in connection to the baby's death, but the charge was elevated to murder in January.

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According to court documents, Faltersack was home alone with the baby and playing video games on Nov. 16. When the baby woke up, Faltersack told police he bounced the baby "harder than he should" and then dropped the baby on the left side of his head when setting him on a bed.





The baby was whimpering and had trouble breathing and Faltersack continued bouncing him, documents state. When the baby stiffened and stopped breathing, Faltersack attempted to revive him by giving breaths and chest compressions and called emergency services requesting help. The baby was taken by ambulance to Trinity Hospital in Minot and later died of brain trauma.





Faltersack told police that he didn't tell the ambulance crew what happened because he was scared, according to court documents. Police said he later admitted that he knew not telling the crew the cause of the baby's injuries could have resulted in the baby being injured more while being treated.