A local man has been charged with aggravated child abuse and possession of meth after a 1-year-old boy was reportedly found with injuries while sitting in his lap.

Jeremy McVey, 34, faces the charges for an incident which was discovered on Friday night, Feb. 5, at around 11 p.m. 

McVey was booked at Warren County Sheriff’s Department and he made his $10,000 bond, according to District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis, who says she feels that bond amount is way too low.

“This is a very serious case involving a 1-year-old, just a baby,” said Zavogiannis.

Zavogiannis said it’s her understanding that it’s not McVey’s child. The baby is the child of a woman he is dating, she said.

According to the warrant for McVey’s arrest, deputy Peyton Young of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department observed a maroon Chevy SUV parked near New Union Methodist Church in the Rock Island area.

The deputy reportedly found the SUV to be occupied by McVey, who was sitting in the driver’s seat holding a 1-year-old boy. 

“The 1-year-old male baby had obvious signs of injury with a bloody mouth, bruising, and the baby appearing to be unconscious with his eyes rolling back in his head,” the arrest warrant reads. “EMS was called to the scene with the baby later being flown to Erlanger Hospital for further treatment and assessment.”

Sheriff’s Department investigator Aaron Roberts was called to the scene. During his conversation with the suspect, McVey reportedly confessed to hitting the baby with an open hand to the head that caused the baby to start seizing.

“A search of McVey’s vehicle revealed a plastic container that held a meth pipe, burner, and approximately 2.3 grams of methamphetamine,” the arrest warrant says.