A Middletown man accused of assaulting his girlfriend's toddler gave investigators a 'full confession' when he was arrested last week, according to Butler County's sheriff.
Nicholas Jones, 24, is held on a felonious assault charge at the Middletown City Jail. His bond was set at $60,000 earlier this week, and he is set to return to court Tuesday.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said Wednesday he admitted to biting the 16-month-old girl on her cheeks and throwing her to the ground, severely injuring her.
The toddler ended up at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Liberty Township, where the injuries prompted suspicion among the medical staff.
They alerted investigators who began looking into the circumstances and, ultimately, gathered enough evidence to arrest Jones Friday.
"Anytime someone abuses a child, it's one the worst things that can happen and will not be tolerated," the sheriff said. "We are going to make sure he gets the maximum from the court system."
Butler County Children Services has been alerted and sheriff's detectives are continuing to investigate, Jones said.
The sheriff said his agency has been told the toddler will recover.
In interviews earlier this week, relatives described the suspect as an all-around good man and great father to a total of eight children he has been caring for.
Four of those children are his own, and the other four are his girlfriend's, according to his family.
Relatives said they were shocked to hear Jones had been locked up on a felonious assault charge.
"The police are saying that, I guess, he slammed the baby on the ground a couple times and was biting the baby," his aunt, Jessica Morris, said Tuesday.
The family claims Jones' girlfriend was at work while he and his brother were watching the children Friday.
They said Jones' girlfriend's young daughter fell off of her high chair, and Jones took the her to Atrium Medical Center in Middletown for treatment.
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