A 19-year-old mother charged with failing to protect her infant from abuse waived her preliminary hearing and sent the case to the grand jury.

Shelby Barnett, of 188 Westside Drive, was arrested Oct. 31, along with the 17-year-old father, after the child’s injuries were discovered during an exam at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Police said the injuries were consistent with a child being shaken violently.

Barnett is facing a single count of first-degree criminal abuse. Police said she knew the father was violent toward the child and left the child in his care.

The father was charged with first-degree assault and first-degree criminal abuse. His case originated in juvenile court, where the records are sealed. He could be indicted and tried as an adult.

Winchester Police Capt. James Hall said detectives were told of the situation Oct. 30 by social workers as the child was being taken to Lexington. The exam the following day found multiple recent and healing fractures to the child’s ribs and sternum.

“(The father) made statements to detectives that he had anger issues and that led to his treatment of the child,” Hall said previously.

The incident was not an isolated one, Hall said, indicating there were previous injuries as well.

Barnett was charged because she continued to leave the child in the father’s care though she knew of his violence and statements about harming the child.

If convicted as charged, Barnett could face five to 10 years in prison.