MINNEAPOLIS -- A Maplewood man has pleaded guilty in the fatal beating of his girlfriend's 18-month-old daughter, reports CBS Minnesota.

While in court Tuesday, Leb Meak, 35, admitted to having punched, squeezed and thrown the 18-month-old girl, according to the station. The incident reportedly occurred at his home last February.

Meak had been watching the child while her mother was at work in Burnsville, according to CBS Minnesota. When police were called to the home in February, they found the baby unresponsive with bruising on her face and body.

According to earlier reports, Meak had told police that he "roughed her up a bit" while changing her diaper. He also said she had accidentally hit her head on some of his weights days before.

When the paramedics first arrived, they reportedly tried to revive the toddler at the home but were unsuccessful.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office is reportedly asking for Meak to receive a longer sentence because investigators say that the baby was physically abused over a long period of time.