A West Des Moines father accused of causing serious injuries to his infant son at Blank Children’s Hospital is scheduled to face a jury in December. According to a sworn police affidavit made publicly available on BabyGeletta.org, investigators documented a severe femur fracture and several older fractures in the child’s legs.
Addis William Geletta is charged with child endangerment resulting in serious injury. The affidavit filed by West Des Moines Detective Stephen Becker alleges that Geletta assaulted his two-month-old son during a period when hospital personnel were absent. Geletta pleaded not guilty in October and demanded a speedy trial. His trial is scheduled for December 7 in Polk County.
Hospitalization and the injuries alleged by police
BabyGeletta.org’s published family account states that the infant underwent hernia surgery August 11, 2026, was discharged August 13, and returned to the hospital August 25 amid continuing medical concerns. On August 28, while he was hospitalized, a serious femur fracture came to light. The family's account describes a medical emergency that became the subject of a criminal investigation.
Detective Becker’s September 10 affidavit describes what he called a “catastrophic full femoral fracture.” It also identifies chronic, pre-existing fractures involving the infant’s right tibia, right fibula, and left distal tibia, described as being in different stages of healing. Becker alleged that the injuries indicated repeated nonaccidental trauma. Those are the investigator’s sworn allegations and are not findings of guilt by a jury.
The family also says detectives described an injury pattern consistent with the child being forcefully slammed onto his legs and inconsistent with a fall explanation reportedly given by the father. That description comes from the family’s published account of statements by investigators; it is distinct from the wording of Becker’s filed affidavit.
A second arrest and a separate harassment conviction
After the September 10 criminal complaint, Geletta was initially released under Level II pretrial supervision. A criminal no-contact order protecting the infant was entered September 11. The children’s mother separately petitioned for domestic-abuse protection September 15, according to the public timeline on BabyGeletta.org, and the court entered a temporary order.
A separate criminal complaint charging third-degree harassment was filed September 22 after the mother reported continued harassment, according to BabyGeletta.org’s summary of the public record. Geletta appeared in court the following day, when a no-contact order protecting the mother was entered and a $500 cash-only bond imposed.
Geletta submitted a written guilty plea in that separate case October 12. The court recorded the disposition October 13 and imposed a $105 fine, surcharge, and court costs. A criminal protective order was modified to remain in effect through October 13, 2031, unless changed by further order. The separate harassment conviction does not establish guilt in the child-endangerment prosecution.
Pretrial release revoked
On September 23, while the separate harassment proceedings were underway, Polk County pretrial services applied to revoke Geletta’s Level II release in the child-endangerment case. A judge approved the request and imposed a $10,000 cash-only bond. The next day, $10,500 in cash bonds was posted across the two cases. The docket confirms the revocation and its timing; the underlying application and order must be reviewed to establish the specific stated reasons for that decision.
The mother also received a final civil domestic-abuse protective order September 28, according to BabyGeletta.org’s public chronology. That order is listed as effective through September 28, 2027. The infant is protected by a separate criminal no-contact order in the pending child-endangerment case.
The family’s circumstances
BabyGeletta.org reports that both children were placed outside the family home while child-welfare authorities addressed safety and reunification concerns. According to the family’s published account, the mother is working toward stable housing, transportation, and a home where the children can be together again, while the infant’s longer-term medical needs are still being evaluated. These descriptions are attributed to the family’s public account and are not findings in the criminal trial.
December trial scheduled
Prosecutors filed trial information and minutes of testimony October 21. Geletta entered his written not-guilty plea and requested speedy trial October 22. A pretrial conference is scheduled for November 19 at 9:15 a.m., followed by jury trial December 7 at 9 a.m., according to the Polk County docket.
The state must prove the pending charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Geletta is presumed innocent of the alleged child endangerment unless and until convicted. KIAC will review further publicly available filings as the case develops.
Sources and public documents
- Sworn complaint and affidavit (publicly reproduced court filing)
- BabyGeletta.org — public court documents and case chronology
- BabyGeletta.org — family’s published account
- Iowa Courts Online — public case docket
Editorial note: The medical and assault allegations are attributed to the sworn complaint; the family’s personal circumstances and descriptions of conversations with detectives are attributed to BabyGeletta.org. Court dates may change. This report will be updated as further records are reviewed.