COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Sherwood, Michigan man who is facing two counts of child abuse following a Michigan State Police investigation into alleged incidents involving a seven month old boy last June has had his case bound over to Branch County Circuit Court.
24-year-old James William Smith is scheduled to appear for a Circuit Court arraignment on November 19, 2018.
Smith is facing two counts of second degree child abuse. One of the counts has been upgraded from third degree to second degree.
Michigan State Police began investigating after they got information from doctors that the infant suffered “non-accidental” head trauma.
According to court documents, Smith allegedly picked the baby up too fast after getting upset while changing its diaper. Smith was also accused of dropping the youngster while carrying the boy.
Michigan State Police were assisted by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety as well as the Kalamazoo and Branch County Department of Human Services during the investigation.
