A 21-year-old man has pleaded no contest to felony manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend's infant daughter.
Christopher M. Klein, 21, entered the plea Tuesday in Hall County District Court. A presentence investigation was ordered, and Klein's sentencing is set for Sept. 30.
In exchange for his plea, a charge of felony violating the sexual offender registration act was dismissed. That charge was filed after Klein moved to Nebraska from the Minneapolis area and failed to register.
Klein was charged after 7-week-old Caitlynne Bohlen, the daughter of his girlfriend, Tiffany A. Bohlen, died Feb. 27.
According to the Hall County attorney's office, Klein, who wasn't the baby's father, put a pacifier in the infant's mouth, wrapped a blanket around her head and squeezed her against the side of her bassinet with a pillow. He told authorities he learned the technique from Bohlen.
Bohlen, also known as Tiffany Balch, 20, of 119 W. 11th St., is also charged with manslaughter. Her case is pending in Hall County Court.
During Bohlen's preliminary hearing earlier this month, Grand Island police investigator Mike Nelson testified that the baby died of asphyxiation by suffocation.
Nelson said the couple had been using the wrapping method on Caitlynne for five or six days prior to her death in order to keep the pacifier in her mouth as she slept. Nelson said he didn't ask if Bohlen had instructed Klein to wrap the baby in that manner the night she died.
Hall County Judge David Bush took Bohlen's case under advisement following the preliminary hearing. His decision is expected later this week.
Bohlen was released on bond in March and was ordered to live with her parents.
Klein remains in the Hall County Jail. In addition to the local charge, Klein is being held on warrants from Minnesota for felony third-degree criminal conduct and writing bad checks.
