Moniteau County man pleads guilty in baby death

A judge has sentenced a Moniteau County man to seven years in prison for the death of his infant son.

Christopher Buxton, 33, entered an Alford plea — in which the defendant pleads guilty but maintains that he did not commit the crime — to involuntary manslaughter Monday and was immediately sentenced. His case had been set for trial next month in Laclede County on a change of venue.

Buxton was charged in August 2016 after his two-and-half-month old baby died at Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He originally faced a charge of second-degree murder. Doctors determined the baby had several broken bones and internal bleeding. The injuries were consistent with a baby being shaken, doctors said.

After his arrest, Buxton denied causing the injuries.

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