A Prineville man was charged this week with abusing his infant twin sons.

Justin Michael Viescas, 26, was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and two counts of third-degree assault. The alleged abuse occurred on multiple occasions at Viescas’ home on the 600 block of NW Fifth Street in Prineville.

Prineville Police began investigating Viescas on July 18, when one of his sons, who was 6 weeks old, was treated at St. Charles Prineville for a broken femur in his right leg, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Crook County Circuit Court.

Viescas told a police officer at the hospital in July that he worked as a medical assistant at the time for Central Oregon Pediatric Associates, according to court documents. He said he was trying to help his son’s constipation by rotating the boy’s legs. The boy began resisting the motion so Viescas applied a bit more pressure and after a few rotations heard a popping noise, he told officers.

Viescas no longer works for the association, said Wade Miller, its CEO.

According to the court documents, Viescas also told another story: Two days prior, Viescas slipped while holding his son in the crook of his arm similar to holding a football and he fell into a dresser. The boy was then pinned between Viescas and the dresser, pinching the boy’s legs.

The boy was transported by air ambulance to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.

After being examined at the Prineville and Portland hospitals, medical staff found the boy had fractures on his shins and abnormalities on his ribs, along with the broken femur, according to court documents.

Viescas’ other son was examined and medical staff discovered he had multiple healing fractures on his ribs and both shins.

Medical staff determined the injuries to both boys were not accidental, according to court documents.

On July 23, Viescas told two police officers during an interview he would regularly swaddle his sons, and sometimes swaddle them too tight, according to an account of the interview in court documents.

The officers asked Viescas what was going through his mind when he realized he was swaddling them too tight.

“I don’t know. Just frustrated. Just want them to stop crying,” Viescas responded.

Viescas was arrested and booked Wednesday in Crook County jail. He is out of custody after posting $1,500, which is 10 percent of his $15,000 bail.

Viescas is scheduled to be arraigned next month in Crook County Circuit Court.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com