ESCANABA - A 23-year-old Escanaba man was charged with child abuse Friday following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a 4-year-old boy, according to police and court officials.
Allen Joseph Brunette, 23, of 10166 M-35, Gladstone, was arrested Friday by the Delta County Sheriff's Department following investigation into an alleged beating of a child who was under the suspect's care.
The sheriff's department was alerted of the incident after the child's mother came home from working the night shift and found her son injured Friday morning, said Sheriff Gary Ballweg on Friday afternoon.
The child was taken to OSF St. Francis Hospital then transferred to Marquette General Hospital, Ballweg added.
Brunette was arrested and lodged in the county jail. He was arraigned in Delta County District Court on Friday and was officially charged with second-degree child abuse. The felony carries a maximum sentencing of four years in prison.
The judge set the defendant's bond at $15,000 cash. Brunette was also ordered not to have contact with the victim or the child's mother.