Father Charged After Child’s 3 Teeth Displaced, Facial Fractures; Released On Recognizance

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A Great Mills man is facing first-degree assault and felony child abuse charges after authorities say he struck a juvenile in the face hard enough to displace three teeth and cause multiple facial fractures.

Stuart David Asp, 43, was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, first-degree child abuse involving severe physical injury and second-degree child abuse.

According to charging documents, a St. Mary’s County sheriff’s deputy responded Aug. 7 to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown for a reported child abuse investigation.

The deputy met with the juvenile and the child’s mother, who told investigators the incident began after the child became upset about not wanting Asp to take the juvenile to flag football practice.

Court documents state Asp is the child’s father and guardian and lived in the same household.

According to the charging documents, the juvenile became upset during the disagreement, grabbed a napkin holder and threw it onto the floor. The child’s mother told investigators Asp then became angry and intentionally struck the juvenile in the face.

The blow allegedly knocked three of the child’s teeth out of their normal position and caused bleeding.

The child was taken to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.

The investigating deputy reported observing displaced and crooked teeth, along with a red, swollen laceration inside the child’s lip. Hospital staff also advised investigators that the child had suffered multiple facial fractures.

Deputies later contacted Asp at a residence in California, Maryland.

After being advised of his rights, Asp allegedly admitted striking the child, according to court documents.

Asp told investigators he was tired, hungry and had “had enough,” and allegedly acknowledged using his left hand to hit the juvenile in the face. The deputy also reported observing a minor injury to Asp’s left hand that appeared consistent with the incident.

Investigators wrote that the child’s injuries were consistent with serious physical injury, including possible disfigurement or impairment to the affected area.

Asp was initially ordered held without bond following his arrest.

At a bond review Monday, Aug. 10, Judge David W. Densford ordered Asp released on his own recognizance.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. in St. Mary’s District Court.

---