Man arrested for severe beating of child

LIMA - A man being questioned in the severe beating of a 3-year-old boy faked a medical condition and then ran away from a hospital emergency room before being captured, Sheriff Dan Beck said Tuesday.

Jacob D. Jones, 29, was in custody Tuesday charged with felonious assault in the severe beating of 3-year-old Christopher Faulk. Jones appeared at a bond hearing Tuesday in Lima Municipal Court, where bond was set at $250,000 and an evidence hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Meanwhile, Christopher was in critical condition at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, officials said.

Christopher lived in the home at 209 N. Church St., Beaverdam, with his mother, Jessica Baughman, 22, and Jones. Baughman had not been charged, Beck said.

The child suffered severe head injuries and may die, which would bring additional charges.

"If the young man dies, [Jones] will be charged with homicide," Beck said.

Emergency medical responders were called Monday to the Beaverdam home on a report of a nonresponsive child. When they arrived, Jones refused to let them in the house but finally agreed to let them check the child, who investigators later found out had been unresponsive for 24 hours before the call, Beck said.

"He was not going to let them in the house," Beck said.

Deputies arrived and were questioning Jones when he appeared to have a medical situation of his own. Jones was taken to Lima Memorial Health System by ambulance but when he arrived he ran away, Beck said.

"He was located a short time later by the Sheriff's Office. He didn't get far," Beck said.

Investigators were working to piece things together but it appears the child was injured at least a day before medical officials were called. The incident was reported to the Sheriff's Office after someone from the family called a local Call-A-Nurse program.

Investigators also were looking into whether Allen County Children Services had any involvement with the family. Initial information indicated that the agency was involved with the family but that was under investigation, Beck said.

"It was brought to our attention that they may have had interaction with Children Services some time prior to this," Beck said.

Three other children were living in the home, two boys, aged 7 and 14, and a girl aged 10, Beck said.

Investigators were looking into whether those children were abused, Beck said.

Jones has a criminal record that includes a conviction for endangering children in 2005, for which he was sentenced to three months in jail. He served a month for a 1998 conviction of domestic violence, according to court records.