Caraway, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A Caraway man is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond after police said he abused his two-month-old infant, leaving the child with multiple bruises on his head and face.
The charge stems from an investigation by the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division. On Feb. 12, a nurse at St. Bernards Medical Center reported suspected child abuse that occurred in the 400 block of North New York Avenue.
According to the probable cause affidavit, medical records and photos showed the two-month-old victim suffered a bruised jaw, an abrasion to his chin, redness on his left shoulder, and bruises to his upper lip and scalp. Investigators noted the injuries were consistent with abuse and not a fall.
The affidavit stated the child’s mother questioned the father, 19-year-old Jacob Ian Freeman, who was caring for the infant at the time. Freeman initially denied knowing what happened before saying the child fell off a bed.
During an interview at the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 27, Freeman maintained that the infant had fallen. He was arrested at 8:33 a.m. that morning, according to the online jail roster.
Freeman appeared the same day before District Judge David Boling, who found probable cause to charge him with second-degree domestic battery (60 years of age or under 12 years of age), a class C felony. If convicted, Freeman faces three to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Freeman’s next scheduled court appearance is March 19.
