OPINION
CRIPPEN, Judge.
Appellant Donald Byron Pearson challenges the trial court’s imposition of a du-rational and dispositional departure. We affirm.
FACTS
In August of 1988, Pearson was living with his fiancee, Patricia Williams. The complaint indicates that in the early morning hours of August 14,1988, Pearson took the couple’s seven-week-old daughter and went into a bedroom.
[403]*403Later in the day Ms. Williams noticed bite marks on the child’s body and listlessness in the child’s movements. Upon admission to Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center, the child was diagnosed as having bite marks on her lips, right arm and both feet. The bite marks involved extensive bruising.
The baby was also diagnosed as having a fracture to the left posterior portion of her skull, as well as a brain contusion and hemorrhaging beneath the surface. The treating physician stated that there was abnormal brain activity on both sides of the brain, indicating an injury to the right side of the brain as well as the left. The treating physician also stated that the injuries had to have been inflicted within 48 hours of treatment and required such a substantial blow to the skull that he doubted the injuries could be attributed to an accidental fall. The child was hospitalized for several days to recover from what the treating physician described as life threatening injuries.
Pearson was charged with one count of first degree assault in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.221 (1988) (assault with infliction of great bodily harm), and one count of third degree assault in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.223 (1988) (assault with infliction of substantial bodily harm). The complaint described the entirety of the child’s injuries. Although the document alleged different degrees of harm, neither count was charged to specific injuries.
As part of a plea agreement, Pearson pleaded guilty to the third degree assault charge and assented to the statutory maximum sentence of 36 months executed, a triple durational departure as well as a dispositional departure from the presumptive sentence of one year and a day stayed.1 Pearson also accepted “as part of the plea negotiation” the existence of specified reasons for departure: that the child was vulnerable and that Pearson, as the infant’s father, was in a position of authority. In addition, Pearson expressly admitted biting the child. In exchange for the guilty plea the state agreed to drop the first degree assault charge.2
At sentencing, appellant made no request for a fact hearing to dispute the underlying circumstances as portrayed by the presen-tence investigation report and the complaint.3 He submitted motions for imposition of the presumptive sentence or, in the alternative, vacation of the plea agreement. The court denied appellant’s motions and sentenced him to 36 months imprisonment. The court stated that it concurred with the grounds for departure stated when the plea agreement was announced.
On appeal, Pearson claims the trial court erred because there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting departure from the sentencing guidelines. Pearson also claims that the court could [404]*404not consider the child’s head injuries in making its sentencing decision.
ISSUES
1. Do the underlying facts and circumstances warrant a greater than durational departure as well as a dispositional departure?
2. Are appellant’s admissions and statements contained in the negotiated plea agreement a consideration in determining the appropriate sentence?
3. Is it improper to consider evidence at sentencing because the evidence tends to prove appellant was guilty of an offense dismissed under the plea agreement?
ANALYSIS
1.
Departure from the presumptive sentence is justified where the defendant’s conduct is significantly more severe than conduct typically involved in the commission of the crime. State v. Cox, 343 N.W.2d 641, 643 (Minn.1984) (concerning durational departures); State v. Loitz, 366 N.W.2d 744, 746 (Minn.App.1985) (concerning dispositional departures), pet. for rev. denied (July 17, 1985).4 Durational departures are usually limited to double the presumptive sentence. State v. Evans, 311 N.W.2d 481, 483 (Minn.1981). Departures may exceed double the presumptive sentence, however, in those “rare cases in which the facts are so unusually compelling that an even greater degree of departure will be justified.” Id.; see State v. Stumm, 312 N.W.2d 248, 249 (Minn.1981) (general limit adopted in Evans does not apply when aggravating circumstances are compelling).
The trial court’s departure will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Garcia, 302 N.W.2d 643, 647 (Minn.1981); see State v. Anderson, 356 N.W.2d at 454 (if record supports findings that substantial and compelling circumstances exist, appellate court will not modify departure unless it has strong feeling sentence is disproportionate). If the reasons for departure are stated on the record, a reviewing court will examine the record to determine if the reasons given by the trial court justify the departure. Williams v. State, 361 N.W.2d 840, 844 (Minn.1985). If the reasons given justify departure or if the reasons are inadequate but there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting departure, then the departure is to be upheld. Id.
The trial court’s durational and dis-positional departure was based on legitimate aggravating factors. See State v. Carpenter, 459 N.W.2d 121 (Minn.1990) (abuse of position of authority); State v. Udstuen, 345 N.W.2d 766 (Minn.1984) (victim vulnerability); State v. Olson, 436 N.W.2d 817 (Minn.App.1989) (abuse of position of authority and victim’s vulnerability), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Apr. 26, 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 862, 110 S.Ct. 176, 107 L.Ed.2d 132 (1989); State v. Steinhaus, 405 N.W.2d 270 (Minn.App.1987) (victim’s vulnerability). Pearson abused his position of authority in assaulting his seven-week-old daughter. In addition, the child was helpless and suffered serious injuries. Moreover, there was no clear abuse of discretion in the trial court’s judgment that these factors were unusually compelling, justifying a greater-than-double durational departure.5 We are satisfied that the trial court did not commit error when it imposed a 24 month upward departure or a dispositional departure.
2.
The terms of a negotiated plea agreement, standing alone, do not consti[405]
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OPINION
CRIPPEN, Judge.
Appellant Donald Byron Pearson challenges the trial court’s imposition of a du-rational and dispositional departure. We affirm.
FACTS
In August of 1988, Pearson was living with his fiancee, Patricia Williams. The complaint indicates that in the early morning hours of August 14,1988, Pearson took the couple’s seven-week-old daughter and went into a bedroom.
[403]*403Later in the day Ms. Williams noticed bite marks on the child’s body and listlessness in the child’s movements. Upon admission to Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center, the child was diagnosed as having bite marks on her lips, right arm and both feet. The bite marks involved extensive bruising.
The baby was also diagnosed as having a fracture to the left posterior portion of her skull, as well as a brain contusion and hemorrhaging beneath the surface. The treating physician stated that there was abnormal brain activity on both sides of the brain, indicating an injury to the right side of the brain as well as the left. The treating physician also stated that the injuries had to have been inflicted within 48 hours of treatment and required such a substantial blow to the skull that he doubted the injuries could be attributed to an accidental fall. The child was hospitalized for several days to recover from what the treating physician described as life threatening injuries.
Pearson was charged with one count of first degree assault in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.221 (1988) (assault with infliction of great bodily harm), and one count of third degree assault in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.223 (1988) (assault with infliction of substantial bodily harm). The complaint described the entirety of the child’s injuries. Although the document alleged different degrees of harm, neither count was charged to specific injuries.
As part of a plea agreement, Pearson pleaded guilty to the third degree assault charge and assented to the statutory maximum sentence of 36 months executed, a triple durational departure as well as a dispositional departure from the presumptive sentence of one year and a day stayed.1 Pearson also accepted “as part of the plea negotiation” the existence of specified reasons for departure: that the child was vulnerable and that Pearson, as the infant’s father, was in a position of authority. In addition, Pearson expressly admitted biting the child. In exchange for the guilty plea the state agreed to drop the first degree assault charge.2
At sentencing, appellant made no request for a fact hearing to dispute the underlying circumstances as portrayed by the presen-tence investigation report and the complaint.3 He submitted motions for imposition of the presumptive sentence or, in the alternative, vacation of the plea agreement. The court denied appellant’s motions and sentenced him to 36 months imprisonment. The court stated that it concurred with the grounds for departure stated when the plea agreement was announced.
On appeal, Pearson claims the trial court erred because there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting departure from the sentencing guidelines. Pearson also claims that the court could [404]*404not consider the child’s head injuries in making its sentencing decision.
ISSUES
1. Do the underlying facts and circumstances warrant a greater than durational departure as well as a dispositional departure?
2. Are appellant’s admissions and statements contained in the negotiated plea agreement a consideration in determining the appropriate sentence?
3. Is it improper to consider evidence at sentencing because the evidence tends to prove appellant was guilty of an offense dismissed under the plea agreement?
ANALYSIS
1.
Departure from the presumptive sentence is justified where the defendant’s conduct is significantly more severe than conduct typically involved in the commission of the crime. State v. Cox, 343 N.W.2d 641, 643 (Minn.1984) (concerning durational departures); State v. Loitz, 366 N.W.2d 744, 746 (Minn.App.1985) (concerning dispositional departures), pet. for rev. denied (July 17, 1985).4 Durational departures are usually limited to double the presumptive sentence. State v. Evans, 311 N.W.2d 481, 483 (Minn.1981). Departures may exceed double the presumptive sentence, however, in those “rare cases in which the facts are so unusually compelling that an even greater degree of departure will be justified.” Id.; see State v. Stumm, 312 N.W.2d 248, 249 (Minn.1981) (general limit adopted in Evans does not apply when aggravating circumstances are compelling).
The trial court’s departure will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Garcia, 302 N.W.2d 643, 647 (Minn.1981); see State v. Anderson, 356 N.W.2d at 454 (if record supports findings that substantial and compelling circumstances exist, appellate court will not modify departure unless it has strong feeling sentence is disproportionate). If the reasons for departure are stated on the record, a reviewing court will examine the record to determine if the reasons given by the trial court justify the departure. Williams v. State, 361 N.W.2d 840, 844 (Minn.1985). If the reasons given justify departure or if the reasons are inadequate but there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting departure, then the departure is to be upheld. Id.
The trial court’s durational and dis-positional departure was based on legitimate aggravating factors. See State v. Carpenter, 459 N.W.2d 121 (Minn.1990) (abuse of position of authority); State v. Udstuen, 345 N.W.2d 766 (Minn.1984) (victim vulnerability); State v. Olson, 436 N.W.2d 817 (Minn.App.1989) (abuse of position of authority and victim’s vulnerability), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Apr. 26, 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 862, 110 S.Ct. 176, 107 L.Ed.2d 132 (1989); State v. Steinhaus, 405 N.W.2d 270 (Minn.App.1987) (victim’s vulnerability). Pearson abused his position of authority in assaulting his seven-week-old daughter. In addition, the child was helpless and suffered serious injuries. Moreover, there was no clear abuse of discretion in the trial court’s judgment that these factors were unusually compelling, justifying a greater-than-double durational departure.5 We are satisfied that the trial court did not commit error when it imposed a 24 month upward departure or a dispositional departure.
2.
The terms of a negotiated plea agreement, standing alone, do not consti[405]*405tute a “substantial and compelling circumstance” which may be relied upon by the sentencing court to justify departure. Garcia, 302 N.W.2d at 647. The court must make an independent evaluation of the sentencing factors and has the sole authority to determine the appropriate sentence. Id.; see also State v. Pieri, 461 N.W.2d 398, 400 (Minn.App.1990) (defendant’s acceptance of upward departure in plea agreement does not relieve trial court of responsibility to provide reasons for departure on record). The trial court may consider the whole record at sentencing. See United States v. York, 830 F.2d 885, 893 (8th Cir.1987) (sentencing judge has “broad discretion as to the type of information he may consider”), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1074, 108 S.Ct. 1047, 98 L.Ed.2d 1010 (1988). Specifically, the court may consider the defendant’s admissions, statements and agreements contained in the negotiated plea. See United States v. Dailey, 918 F.2d 747, 748 (8th Cir.1990) (court may “rely upon stipulations between the government and the defendant in determining the facts relevant to sentencing”); see also State v. McLaughlin & Schulz, Inc., 397 N.W.2d 9, 11 (Minn.App.1986) (court found no abuse of discretion in imposing fines which were contemplated by plea agreement and authorized by law).
While the trial court in the instant case could not rely solely on Pearson’s acquiescence to upward departure, grounds for departure are magnified by admissions of appellant in his agreement and at the plea hearing. Pearson admitted to biting the infant, causing the bruising and breaking of the child’s skin. Pearson also agreed to the grounds for departure: 1) the vulnerability of the victim, and 2) Pearson’s position of authority oyer the infant, given his status as her biological father. Finally, Pearson agreed to the 36 month executed term, recognizing that it was both a durational and dispositional departure. Combined with Pearson’s statement that he took responsibility for the injuries caused by his bites, the agreement indicates an acknowledgement of the substantial and compelling circumstances warranting the departure.6
Appellant contends that giving credence to the sentencing portion of his plea agreement unduly risks sentencing which contradicts the sentencing guidelines. We find this argument unwarranted.
The purpose of the sentencing guidelines is to eliminate disparate sentencing, protecting the interests of the state and defendants. Garcia, 302 N.W.2d at 646. Nothing in the development or implementation of the guidelines suggests an aim to discourage or limit plea bargains as an element in the just disposition of criminal prosecutions.
Moreover, it would be improvident for us to disregard the sentencing aspects of a plea agreement. Pieri, 461 N.W.2d at 401 (it does not serve “defense in criminal proceedings to discourage plea agreements by imperiling the state’s confidence that they will be upheld without alteration”); see Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 261, 92 S.Ct. 495, 498, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971) (disposition through plea bargain is essential and desirable part of administration of justice). Once a court accepts a plea containing a sentencing agreement, the terms of the agreement normally should be fulfilled. See Santobello, 404 U.S. at 262, 92 S.Ct. at 499 (discussing prosecutor's mandatory duty to uphold sentencing promise contained in plea agreement). If prosecutors and courts are not inhibited from accepting plea agreements, this “may be in the interest of the defendant as well as the public.” State v. Synnes, 454 N.W.2d 646, 648 (Minn.App.1990) (Forsberg, J., concurring specially), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. June 26, 1990).
[406]*406Crystallizing the sentencing issues in the plea agreement is advantageous to both the state and the defendant. If both parties agree that the defendant committed certain acts which constitute substantial and compelling reasons for departures, the sentencing court will benefit from the clear presentation of these issues in the record. If the parties disagree concerning the underlying conduct, the presence of such disagreements in the plea agreement will aid the sentencing court by focusing on these issues at the sentencing hearing and in the departure report.7
We conclude that Pearson’s acknowl-edgement of the seriousness of his conduct and the specific grounds for departure is a consideration supporting the trial court’s finding of substantial and compelling circumstances warranting departure from the guidelines.
3.
A court can properly consider the course of conduct underlying an offense in deciding to depart from the statutory guidelines. Cox, 343 N.W.2d at 643.8 Only when the sentencing court contemplates facts related solely to a dismissed charge does the sentencing court create the risk of reversible error. State v. Womack, 319 N.W.2d 17, 19 (Minn.1982).9
The aggravating circumstances supporting departure in this case are not unique to a charge of first degree assault. Nothing in the complaint tied these aggravating factors to the first degree assault charge. We conclude, therefore, that because the stated reasons for departure arise from the facts and circumstances underlying the third degree assault charge, the trial court properly sentenced the defendant even if these facts and circumstances point to his guilt on the dismissed charge.
Moreover, even if the departures were based partly on the head injuries in this case, there was no reversible error. A defendant may not bind the court to his version of the facts by virtue of his guilty plea. Winchell, 363 N.W.2d at 749. If a defendant disputes the facts contained in the presentence investigation report, he should demand a sentencing hearing to resolve the factual dispute. Id.
The presentence investigation report in this case clearly incorporated the complaint charging Pearson with inflicting both the bite and head wounds. However, Pearson did not request a sentencing hearing to dispute the underlying circumstances of the case. Thus, the court was free to consider the evidence contained in the record on Pearson’s connection to the child’s head injuries even though on appeal Pearson denies responsibility for those injuries.
The consideration of the infant’s head injuries does not violate the narrow rule of Womack on dismissed charges. The complaint here alleged different degrees of harm and neither count was tied to specific injuries. Moreover, under Cox, dismissal of the more serious charge does not mandate the court’s automatic disregard for [407]*407the child’s more severe injuries.10 The trial court was free to consider all of the underlying facts and circumstances in arriving at its sentencing decisions and we believe that consideration of the child’s head injuries would fall within the bounds of the trial court’s discretion.
DECISION
The trial court properly imposed a dura-tional and dispositional departure on appellant’s sentence. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s sentencing decision.
Affirmed.