ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing a felony child abuse charge after police say the injuries he caused were severe.
According to a Tuesday press release from the Rockingham Police Department, officers were contacted by the Richmond County Department of Social Services on Aug. 26 to investigate a possible child abuse case.
The injuries appeared to be “non-accidental,” according to the release.
During the course of the investigation, officers determined that 22-year-old Dustin Ray Davis was involved “with the occurrence of the injuries,” according to the release.
Police did not give details on the age or gender of the child or the type of injuries the child sustained. An arrest warrant was not available at the Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court’s office Tuesday afternoon.
Davis was arrested and charged with intentional child abuse causing serious bodily injury. He was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $200,000 secured bond.
Online court records show Davis is scheduled to appear in Richmond County District Court on Sept. 14.
Records also show he has a court appearance in Scotland County Sept. 7 for a traffic infraction of failing to reduce speed.
This isn’t the first time Davis has been accused of violence.
According to records with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction, he was convicted March 30 on a single misdemeanor count of assault on a female for an incident that occurred Nov. 13, 2016. He was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.