A Schuylkill County jury of eight women and four men found Pennsylvania State Trooper Christopher Young not guilty on all nine charges he faced this week, including aggravated assault against his infant son and witness intimidation against his ex-wife.
After the verdict was read aloud by Judge William Burke, Young broke down in tears.
Prosecutors alleged that Young physically abused one of his twin infant sons in September 2023, causing serious brain injuries, and later stalked and intimidated his ex-wife outside her Auburn home in March 2025 while armed with a handgun and a knife.
On Friday, following four full days of testimony, the jury deliberated for about three hours before coming to its unanimous decision to acquit the State Trooper – who has been suspended from his job – on all charges. While deliberating, jurors asked two questions, one to have the charges read to them once more by Burke and also to view two videos that were introduced as evidence during the trial.
“We appreciate the time and effort that this jury put ino listening to all of the facts of this case,” defense attorney Jay Nigrini told Coal Region Canary after the verdict.
During the state’s case, Young’s ex-wife, Stacey Young, testified that her former husband abused the child and read aloud text exchanges where he appeared to accept responsibility. Prosecution medical expert Dr. June Elcock-Messam testified that diagnostic testing at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital in Allentown supported only one clinical conclusion: abusive head trauma.
Taking the stand in his own defense, Young denied abusing his son and testified that his text admissions were sent solely to “placate” his ex-wife so she would permit him to see his children. Young maintained the infant’s symptoms stemmed from non-abusive medical issues, and defense expert Dr. Saadi Ghatan, a pediatric neurologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, testified that Lehigh Valley Hospital’s abuse diagnosis was incorrect and that the child suffered a seizure unrelated to abuse.
Regarding the 2025 incident outside his former home, Young testified his presence was prompted by a crisis call regarding an involuntary mental health commitment order issued for himself.
During closing arguments, Nigrini argued that prosecutors failed to call treating physicians from Lehigh Valley Hospital and urged jurors to view Young’s text messages as the desperate statements of a father trying to maintain contact with his children.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Lauren Eichelberger countered in her closing by highlighting nursery security camera footage showing Young rubbing his chin on the infant’s head, arguing that Young’s written confessions and actions established his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
One of the videos jurors asked to see was of Young appearing to rub his chin on his baby’s head while he was crying. The other video was introduced by the prosecution to show that Young left his weapons in areas of their home that were accessible to his children.
Despite the verdict going in his client’s favor, Nigrini said the effects of this case may be long lasting for Young and all involved.
“This has been a tragedy of circumstances for Christopher Young and the rest of his entire family,” Nigrini said. “What had been misdiagnosed at Lehigh Valley Hospital almost three yers ago has set a chain of events that has ruined lives and reputations. We’re happy this matter has been properly resolved.”
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