Published: July 10, 2008 10:44 am      

New Albany man charged with battery of 4-month-old girl

Judge denies no-contact order with alleged victim

A New Albany man has been charged with battering a 4-month-old girl who was in his care at the time.

The victim’s mother told police that Michael A. Jones, 29, called her at work April 5, saying that the child was “gasping for air,” according to a probable-cause affidavit. The infant was taken to Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services and later released. Four days later, the child was getting a checkup at the pediatrician’s office and began having seizures.

The child was taken to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, which reported possible child abuse to the police. A forensic pediatrics specialist told police that the girl suffered acute subdural bleeding in her head and had bilateral retinal hemorrhages, the affidavit states. Subdural bleeding is bleeding between the brain cover and the brain itself,

The specialist said the brain injuries and respiratory problems were inflicted at about the same time.

Jones is charged with aggravated battery, a class B felony. He faces six to 20 years in prison if convicted. Floyd County Circuit Court Judge J. Terrence Cody issued a summons for Jones on June 27.

On Wednesday, Cody set bail at $10,000. Jones paid the $1,000 needed and bonded out, according to Floyd County Jail logs received this morning.

The judge also denied the state’s request to issue a no-contact order with the victim. The affidavit does not specify the victim’s relationship with the suspect, although they have the same last name.

Jones has appeared before Cody several times on a CHINS, or Children in Need of Service, case. Those proceedings are confidential and may have affected the decision to not issue the no-contact order.