Salem resident John Holland recently pleaded guilty to severely beating his 3-month-old daughter last year.

On Monday, Nov. 27, Holland changed his plea in Rockingham County Superior Court as jury selection was about to begin.

Holland, 27, had been charged with first-degree assault after his daughter was found to have several broken bones and bleeding on the brain.

The change of plea came shortly after a judged denied Holland’s request to throw out his confession to Salem police detectives Richard Oliveri and George Baker.

Detectives initially interviewed Holland in July 2005 at Caritas Holy Family Hospital after he phoned police saying his daughter would not wake up from a nap.

In later interviews, Holland revealed details about the abuse. Last month, he tried to have those details thrown out because he said the police did not inform him that he wasn’t required to speak to them.

Holland will have to serve a minimum of four to 10 years in state prison with a maximum of 30 years, according to County Attorney James Reams.

Holland’s release date from prison will be, in part, dependent on his behavior and cooperation, Reams said.

If he had been convicted at trial, Holland would have served between 7-1/2 to 15 years in state prison.

“This is as good a resolution as we could have expected,” Reams said. “It saves taxpayers a lot of money. It’s a win-win for the state.”

While Holland was free on bail, he had supervised visitation rights to his daughter.

Holland’s daughter is currently living with her mother and is making a remarkable recovery, Reams said.

Holland has been ordered to the Rockingham County Jail until his sentencing on Feb. 2.