YCSO: Man arrested, accused of assaulting 15-month-old child

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- Officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said Thursday a man is accused of assaulting a 15-month-old child.

According to a statement, Jerimiah David King, 28, was arrested and booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on May 2, and has since been released from detention. Officials with YCSO said the King was acting as the caregiver of the victim, along with a three-year-old, at a Prescott home on April 30, and with the 15-month-old's mother and aunt returned home, they noticed bruising on the child that was getting progressively worse. The 15-month-old was later taken to Yavapai Regional Medical Center East for an evaluation, where hospital workers called YCSO to advise there was unexplained bruising and trauma to the 15-month-old's face and genital area. The victim was later flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital for further examination.

At first, YCSO officials said family members told investigators they thought the victim may have been injured while he was in his crib, trying to reach for a something hanging above the crib. Medical staff members at Phoenix Children's Hospital disputed the story, and investigators eventually learned that the victim suffered bruising on both ears that were indicative of direct blows, in addition to redness and bruising to the facial area, a bruise to the forehead, and bruising and swelling in the child's genital area.

Officials with YCSO said in an interview with investigators, King said he did not know how the victim was injured, and claimed he saw redness on the child's cheeks at around 3:15 p.m., when he woke the victim up from a nap. King also claimed he would never hurt a child.

King, according to officials with YCSO, is facing multiple charges, including intentionally causing injuries to a child, and aggravated assault.

FOX 10 reported on this story from Phoenix.