By SYDNEY KENT
A man from Auburn accused of battery against a four-year-old in Bluffton pled not guilty to the charges earlier this month.
Jamin Parrish, 27, was charged with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14, a Level 5 felony.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the charges were filed after a woman from Bluffton reported that her former boyfriend, Parrish, abused her child. The report was made in early February.
The woman advised that she had been in a relationship with Parrish for several months when he moved into her home. She stated that she was taking a nap while Parrish took care of both of the children.
During her nap, she reportedly awoke to the sound of children crying and saw Parrish forcefully putting a child into a car seat. She advised that Parrish was attempting to leave to purchase more alcohol while already intoxicated.
The woman said she prevented him from leaving with their children, took the kids elsewhere and ended the relationship.
When one of the children was dropped off at their father’s residence the next day, bruising was noticed on the child’s ear. The report noted that there was also bruising on the child’s back consistent with fingertip placement of “how someone would pick up an infant”.
When questioned by police, Parrish reportedly admitted that he had issues remembering all of the situation and that he had a lapse of judgment due to not being sober at the time.
During his initial hearing on June 18, Parrish entered a preliminary plea of not guilty. He was also appointed a public defender. A pretrial conference in the matter is set for 1 p.m. on August 7 in the Wells Circuit Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
