BOSTON, May 3, 2013—A Revere man yesterday pleaded guilty to the 2011 beating that caused life-threatening injuries to his then-girlfriend’s son, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JOSEPH TESTA (D.O.B. 5/19/82) yesterday appeared in Suffolk Superior Court, where he pleaded guilty to the indicted charges of assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury and reckless endangerment of a child. Judge Raymond Brassard sentenced Testa to six to nine years in state prison, the term recommended by prosecutors.

Had the case proceeded to trial, Assistant District Attorney David Deakin, chief of the DA’s Family Protection and Sexual Assault Bureau, would have presented evidence and testimony to prove that on April 22, 2011, Testa beat the then-5-year-old boy, causing intracranial bleeding and bruises to various parts of his body.

At approximately 10:30 that morning, witnesses called 911 after seeing Testa and the boy – who was unresponsive – on a strip of grass next to Revere Beach Parkway.  Testa gave the good Samaritans and investigators a series of explanations for the boy’s condition, none of which were consistent with the opinion of medical experts and which he acknowledged at yesterday’s hearing were false.

The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent successful emergency surgery.  He is currently on his way to a full recovery and living with members of his extended family.

Nicole Crosta was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Testa was represented by attorney Laura Fenn.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.