Father charged with abusing baby

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WPRI) - A Middletown man who admitted to police that he stepped on, kicked, and beat his 8-month-old baby boy was arraigned Monday on first-degree child abuse charges.

Rhode Island State Police arrested 26-year-old Brandon Holley, an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard, Saturday at his apartment on Admiralty Drive in Middletown. The child is at Children's Hospital Boston suffering from internal injuries and contusions to his face.

Troopers said some of the abuse happened Thanksgiving morning when the baby's mother left the child at home with Holley. When she returned, they said the mother observed bruising on the child's face.

However, the child wasn't taken to the hospital until later in the day. The couple was visiting the mother's family in New Hampshire for Thanksgiving, when the child's grandparents noticed the injuries and requested that he be brought to the hospital.

Doctors at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, New Hampshire, examined the baby and then transferred him to Boston, where according to Troopers, Holley gave conflicting statements about how his young son was hurt.

The Rhode Island Department of Youth and Families was notified and contacted State Police.

When Troopers interviewed Holley Saturday, they said he admitted to stepping on the child's back and abdomen and kicking him on Wednesday. He further stated that on Thursday, he repeatedly struck the baby in the face.

The judge set Holley's bail at $20,000 during his arraignment Monday afternoon at Newport County District Court.

Richard Uronia, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, said officials are cooperating with authorities as they continue to investigate. He said the Coast Guard will take appropriate steps at the outcome of the investigation, but as of now Holley will remain an active-duty member.