Local man pleads not guilty to felony child abuse

Friday, September 20, 2013

A local man entered a not-guilty plea in connection with a felony child abuse case during his arraignment in district court on Monday.

Joshua T. Nelson, 24, was arrested by Mountain Home police July 1 after he allegedly inflicted injuries on an 11-month-old child.

Nelson, a senior airman, is an avionics technician assigned to the 366th Component Maintenance Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The relationship between Nelson and the child was not immediately known.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the county prosecutor's office, Nelson stands accused of wrenching the child from his chest and slamming the infant to the ground June 28. The child suffered a broken leg during the assault, the complaint added.

On Aug. 26, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over to district court to face the single felony charge.

His case is currently scheduled to go to trial the morning of Feb. 18. If convicted, he faces a minimum of one year in prison with a maximum sentence of 10 years in confinement along with a $50,000 fine and an additional $5,000 in civil penalties.

Nelson is currently out of custody after he posted an $80,000 bond.