A 39-year-old Grand Island man accused of hitting his 9-week-old daughter has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of child abuse.
Michael Valdez made a plea deal with prosecutors, who reduced the original felony charge. Valdez now faces up to a year behind bars on each count instead of up to 50 years under a felony charge.
His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 12.
Prosecutors say Valdez hit his baby girl in the head on April 18 last year and between April 1 and April 10 last year. The baby was treated for retinal hemorrhaging and fluid and blood on her brain.
