Parents convicted of assault over baby's diet

A couple was convicted of assault for nearly starving to death their infant daughter by putting her on their own strict diet, including herbal tea and ground nuts but no breast milk or formula.

Joseph and Silva Swinton, both 32, were also convicted yesterday of reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. They could face up to 25 years in prison at sentencing on May 16.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Rosenbaum said the couple treated their daughter, Ice, like a gerbil, feeding her a diet of ground nuts, juice, herbal tea, beans, cod liver oil and flax seed oil and no breast milk or formula.

The child is now recovering in foster care but has developmental problems, according to the district attorney’s office.

Lawyers for the Swintons said the parents were unaware they were harming the child and argued the medical records were inaccurate. The parents said their health improved after they restricted their diets and they hoped their child would benefit from eating similar foods.

The child was discovered by authorities in November 2001 weighing just 10lb (4.5 kilograms) at age 16 months. Doctors testified that she was at risk of heart failure because of poor nutrition.

The Swintons’ attorney, Ronna Gordon-Galchus, did not return a phone call after the verdict seeking comment.