LI Dad 'Shook Infant From Earliest Moment's In 'Violent Nightmare': DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A South Setauket man was indicted in connection with assaulting and "repeatedly abusing" his five-week-old son, causing brain injuries that required life-saving surgery in January, Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

Vincent Distasi, 31, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of first-degree assault, reckless assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and his bail was continued at $300,000 cash, $300,000 bond, or $3 million partially secured bond.

Two orders of protection were also issued.

Donnelly's office was designated as the special prosecutor of the case because there was a potential conflict of interest involving the Suffolk DA's office, according to a spokeswoman.

She described Distasi as brutally assaulting his five-week-old son "from his earliest moments," then finally shook the infant "so violently that he caused a traumatic brain injury."

“The infant spent weeks on life support and doctors thought he might not survive," she said. "As he continues fighting for his life, my office will fight for justice. The defendant’s alleged actions made his son’s first weeks in this world a violent nightmare and we will hold him accountable.”

But his attorney, Anthony La Pinta of Hauppauge, said the allegations "are so uncharacteristic of the person and father that Mr. DiStasi is known to be.”

At around 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2024, the five-week-old son of Distasi was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital unresponsive and required emergency brain surgery, Donnelly said, adding that doctors later determined he suffered from multiple injuries, including rib fractures, fractures to both arms, and a subdural hematoma to his brain, among other acute injuries.

The infant’s injuries were in various stages of healing indicating that the child had suffered prolonged abuse, according to Donnelly.

As part of the criminal investigation, Ring video footage was secured from Distasi's home that recorded the family’s living room and a review showed him "abusing the infant throughout the first five weeks of his life," Donnelly said.

The video shows him allegedly tossing, punching, smacking, and smothering the child over the course of weeks, Donnelly said, adding that on Jan. 21, he violently shook the infant, causing the injuries that resulted in the child’s emergency surgery.

He was arrested on Jan. 29, outside of Stony Brook University Hospital by Suffolk's 6th Precinct and Special Victims Section.

If convicted of the top count, Distasi faces a potential maximum of 25 years in prison.

He is due back in court on May 23.