Soldier Charged With Abusing Infant Son

Spc. Darris Lebron White, 26, of 913 Bridgette St. in Fayetteville, was charged with felony child abuse and was being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $20,000 secured bond.

The infant was in three hospitals for a total of four weeks, and police said the child suffered brain injuries and a broken leg.

The child and his 2-year-old brother have been placed in foster care, authorities said. A custody hearing has been scheduled for next Thursday to determine whether the children shoudl return to their parents' care.

Police said White, a mechanic with the 21st Military Police Company at Fort Bragg, was the only person in his west Fayetteville apartment with the child on Dec. 11, which is when authorities said they believe the injuries occurred.

Investigators said they had to wait for doctors to provide information on the child's condition before filing a child abuse charge against White.

Investigators wouldn't say how the infant was injured, but said White's version of the incident didn't match the injuries.

White's wife, who declined to provide her name, told WRAL that she believes her husband would never hurt either of the children. The baby was hurt after falling off the couch, she said.

White, who hasn't been deployed in more than a year, has faced no previous criminal charges, according to a check of court and military records.

Authorities are trying to portray White as another soldier who couldn't handle the stress of duty and snapped at home, his wife said.