Westport man accused of abusing infant son released on bail; ordered to seek psych evaluation

The Herald News

FALL RIVER — Acknowledging home surveillance videos allegedly capturing a Westport man physically abusing his 2-month-old infant son were “disturbing,” a district court judge released him on bail and ordered him to seek a psychiatric evaluation. 

Stephen Kegyes, 32, sobbed at Fall River District Court Judge Paul Pino’s ruling at Tuesday’s dangerousness hearing as did his mother, Lori Watts, who gave emotional testimony in support of the release of her son. 

Members of Kegyes’s family members embraced as they left the courtroom.  

Kegyes, who was in the process of adopting the infant who was referenced in court as “Baby M” with his husband, was released to Watts with bail set at $2,500 cash. 

He was arrested on six felony counts of child abuse and suffocation and strangulation two days after he called 911 from his Gifford Road home after “Baby M” had stopped breathing. 

The infant was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital for serious injuries on Jan. 10. Hospital staff there and DCF workers contacted Westport police. 

His attorney, Will Flanagan, said after the hearing that Kegyes will go to Connecticut where his family lives. 

“He’ll be evaluated by the Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and he’ll have to go under any treatment that they deem necessary,” said Flanagan. “This is very early in the case, he has a presumption of innocence and he has not had his trial yet. Add on to that you have someone who may have been experiencing a psychotic episode.” 

Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Kyle McPherson presented as evidence three home surveillance videos out of the eyes of the courtroom, but viewed by Westport Police Detective Ryan Nickelson who obtained two videos through a search warrant at Kegyes’s home. 

His husband had discovered one of the videos that was turned into police.