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Father faces charge after infant found unresponsive

A man has been charged after a two-month-old child was found unresponsive Saturday at a home in Smithfield, police said.

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SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A Johnston County man was charged after his 2-month-old son was found unresponsive at a home on Caswell Street in Smithfield Friday night, police said. 

According to police, Jonathan Michael Jones was charged with intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury in connection with the case. 

Sarah Aponte, who lives nearby, said she had been watching the infant before authorities arrived at the home. 

"When the father came back, he came to get him. The baby was whining, and he said, 'Here we go again,'" Aponte said. "I said, 'I can keep him for a little while.' He said, 'No, I got him.' I said, 'Call my phone, text my phone if you can't take care of him at all.'"

Aponte said seven minutes later Jones came beating at her door and handed her the lifeless child. 

The child was in intensive care on life support Saturday night and remained in critical condition Sunday, according to police and a family friend.

Jones was being held in the Johnston County Jail under a $200,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. 

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