A 28-year-old nanny for a Redwood Shores family accused of violently shaking a newborn boy in her care, causing him to suffer multiple skull fractures and massive brain hemorrhaging, will appear in San Mateo County court Tuesday for further arraignment.

Minerva Rojas, 28, of East Palo Alto, pleaded not guilty March 22 to child abuse, felony inflicting corporal injury upon a child and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the alleged March 16 shaking incident, the San Mateo County district attorney's office reported.

At a preliminary hearing on April 3, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Beth Freeman found there was sufficient evidence to hold Rojas for trial.

Redwood City police arrested Rojas after they responded to a 911 call on March 16 and found a 2-and-a-half-month-old boy named Thomas unconscious and suffering from two skull fractures, retinal hemorrhaging and subdural hemorrhaging.

Rojas originally claimed she left the baby in another room lying on a couch while she made lunch for his 2-and-a-half-year-old sister. She said by the time she returned Thomas had already rolled off the couch, falling about 19 inches to the carpeted floor below, Redwood City police Detective Mike Reynolds testified at Rojas' preliminary hearing.

During a three-hour interview of Rojas conducted by Reynolds and another detective, Rojas' "story changed several times," according to Reynolds.

She said "when she picked Thomas up she had the phone in her hand and possibly she may have hit him," accidentally with it, Reynolds said.

Rojas later told investigators that the baby may have been hit in the head as she opened the door to a refrigerator. She also said the baby fell after she tripped on a toy, Reynolds said.

Rojas allegedly admitted to shaking the boy, using a stuffed bear to demonstrate to police.

Rojas, who remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail, will appear in court for her arraignment Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

— Bay City News Service