PALISADE — A Palisade man is accused of killing his infant daughter by throwing her 12 feet into the air and across a kitchen.

Thirty-three-year-old John Peterson is charged with second-degree murder in the November death of the 5-week-old girl, who authorities say suffered head injuries including a skull fracture.

Peterson was arrested Tuesday and charged Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney representing him. He was to make his initial court appearance Thursday.

If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.