FARGO — A St. Michael man has pleaded guilty to three federal counts of child abuse that resulted in the death of a 1-year-old on the Spirit Lake Reservation.

Collin Ray Delorme Sr., 29, St. Michael, entered his guilty pleas before District Court Judge Peter Welte on Wednesday in Fargo, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Conroy and SheraLynn Ternes.

According to Department of Justice information, Delorme’s co-defendant Kenzie Rose Baker called 9-1-1 from a home in St. Michael to report a 1-year-old child was not breathing. The child was transported to a Devils Lake hospital and was later pronounced dead. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was “battered child” due to multiple, repeated injuries of various ages, evident upon external and internal examination which were untreated resulting in infection and sepsis.

Baker admitted she had observed swelling for a couple weeks, but failed to seek medical care. Delorme claimed an external injury to the child’s back above a spinal fracture occurred when he misjudged a step and his boot slipped and a flashlight hit the child.

Two of the charges Delorme pleaded guilty to are connected to his abuse and the resulting death of the 1–year old. A third charge is the result of Delorme’s abuse of a second child when he hit the child on the arms and threw him on the bed.

“Today’s guilty plea is a step towards accountability for the heartrending death of a young child,” Schneider said. “The way this toddler was treated was horrific and shameful.

Whether it is at multi-disciplinary team meetings throughout the District of North Dakota or by holding child abusers accountable in federal court, our career prosecutors and partners in law enforcement are committed to protecting kids and preventing tragic cases like this one.”

Delorme is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 18 and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. Baker pleaded guilty to charges of accessory after the fact, child abuse and child neglect, on Aug. 16. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22. Both are detained pending their sentencing.