Penn Hills man sentenced for Allegheny Township child's zombie-like appearance

A Penn Hills man will serve up to 23 months in jail for his role in injuries sustained by a 2-year-old girl who police said still “looked like a zombie” days after a December 2017 incident in an Allegheny Township home.

James Michael Bucci, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of child endangerment and misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors dismissed two felony counts of aggravated assault of children.

According to court records, the child sustained multiple head injuries while in Bucci’s care. Bucci claimed the child suffered head injuries when she fell off a couch, tripped over his leg and hit her head on the floor, but told police he could not account for other facial injuries.

Police in court documents said witnesses claimed Bucci sometimes fell asleep while watching television in another room when he was supposed supervise the children.

Police said Bucci attempted to the dissuade the victim’s mother from seeking medical attention for the child for two days.

According to court records, Bucci fled the state when the child was taken to the hospital. He was arrested a month later while working at a restaurant in Kentucky.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik- DeFazio sentenced Bucci to serve one year, less a day, to 23 months in the county jail. He was given credit for nearly 15 months he served in jail after his arrest and before he was released April 12, 2019, after posting $50,000 bail.

Bucci was ordered to report to Westmoreland County Prison on March 1 to begin serving the remainder of his sentence.

The judge also ordered Bucci to serve seven additional years on probation, complete anger management classes and have no contact with the victim and her family.