GALVESTON, Texas, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- An Arkansas man accused of burning his infant daughter in a microwave oven is planning to plead not guilty by reason of insanity in a Texas court.
A motion to that effect has been filed in Galveston, Texas, by the attorney for Joshua Mauldin, The Galveston Daily News reported Friday.
Mauldin, 20, had reportedly recently arrived in Galveston with his family last May when the incident took place.
Left alone with his 2-month-old daughter in a Galveston hotel, he is accused of punching her and then placing her in the hotel room safe. Authorities alleged he took her out of the safe and put her into a refrigerator before stuffing the infant in a microwave oven and turning it on for between 10 and 20 seconds.
Both Mauldin and his wife have been barred from seeing the infant who is living with relatives while she recovers from her injuries, the Daily News said.
Under Texas law, a person can be found not guilty by reason of insanity if a jury finds the defendant didn't know that his or her actions were wrong.
