Infant remains on life-support as father faces abuse charges

Jonathan Michael Jones is charged with intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury after his son, Jaxen, was found unresponsive in their Smithfield home on Friday.

Jones’ bond was increased to $400,000 during his first court appearance Monday. Prosecutors asked to raise the bond due to the possibility of more charges being filed based on the baby’s condition. Jones also asked for a court-appointed attorney. His next court date is Jan. 16.

Sarah Aponte, who lives next door to Jones, was babysitting the infant when his father picked him up.

"When I handed him the baby he wined 'oh here we go again, this kid hates me,'" she said.

He was back at her door less than five minutes later. The infant was not breathing.

"I told him 'what did you do, what did you do to him,'" she said. "He said 'I was just feeding him and he choked.'"

She called him a liar.

Smithfield police officers had to conduct life-saving measures until paramedics arrived.

Doctors found dried blood behind the infant's eyes, said prosecutors, who added that such is an indicator of previous abuse.

The baby's mother, Brandy Carthen, was at the hospital with flu-like symptoms when the incident happened. She was too upset to talk after Jones' court appearance and has been at Jaxen's side since.