FARMINGTON — A Jay man pleaded guilty Friday to physically abusing a 2-year-old child on July 13, 2015, in Wilton.

Justice William Stokes sentenced Devin M. Medcoff, 21, to two years in prison, all suspended, and two years of probation.

Medcoff entered an Alford plea to a felony charge of assault on a child under 6 years old. A more serious charge of felony aggravated assault was dismissed. An Alford plea is based on a defendant’s belief that he is not guilty but thinks that if the jury believed the victim’s testimony, he would be found guilty.

If the case had gone to trial, witnesses would have testified that the child had numerous bruises and burn marks on his body and swelling to his head, Assistant District Attorney Claire Andrews said.

Franklin County Detective Kenneth Charles followed up on a Maine Department of Health and Human Services referral on the abuse, Andrews said.

The child had been taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington and the injuries were initially said to have been caused by a fall. A doctor reported the injuries were consistent with abuse.

Witnesses would have testified that the child’s mother had picked up the child from his father’s house in Chesterville and no injuries were noticed until the child was left in Medcoff’s care, Andrews said.

Defense attorney Walter “Woody” Hanstein said the mother was initially so convinced that the child’s father had caused the injuries that she applied for a protection from abuse order.

Medcoff had a June 2013 conviction on charges of harassment and reckless conduct, Andrews said.

Among the conditions of release, Medcoff cannot have contact with the child or his mother and cannot have unsupervised contact with anyone under age 14.

He is also to be screened to see if he needs anger management counseling.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net