VALPARAISO | A Merrillville man was granted a delay Friday in his trial to allow time for a medical test he hopes will clear him of charges of seriously injuring his 2-month-old daughter.

Defense attorney Kirk Marrie said his client, Jeremy Vega, wants to have a $2,000 test done to determine if his daughter has osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a genetic disorder characterized by bones that break easily.

Vega was charged with felony neglect of a dependent and felony battery after his daughter was taken to the hospital in January 2006 with fractured ribs. He was living in Hebron at the time.

The request for the test was opposed by Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Trista Hudson, who said it is not necessary.

A doctor in the case has said if the child has the disorder, she would have had more extensive and subsequent injuries, which has not been the case, Hudson said.

The disorder is hereditary, and it isn't present in the girl's family, she said.

Marrie said the doctor has said the disorder could have mutated in the child alone.

If the girl tests positive, he said prosecutors may want to reconsider the charges against Vega.

Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper postponed the Nov. 26 trial until Jan. 14 and freed up the balance of Vega's $2,500 bond to help him pay for the test.

"You need to get this test done right away," Harper said.