PEORIA, Ill. – A Bartonville man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he allegedly abused his infant child.
Court documents indicate 24-year-old Gabriel King is charged with Aggravated Battery in the case. King made his plea via video conference Thursday and had a public defender assigned to him.
A jury trial was scheduled for September 8th.
Prosecutors in the case say the mother left the baby in King’s care on June 2nd to go to work, with King calling to say the baby would not calm down and was crying uncontrollably.
The mother reportedly noticed bruising on the baby while changing their diaper, as well as unusual screaming.
King reportedly told police that he became overwhelmed and may have handled the baby too roughly, but the treating doctor noticed bruising and injuries that were a result of child abuse.
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