Man Accused Of Biting McAlester Infant

A Coalgate man turned himself in Sunday after being charged last week with one count of child abuse by injury.

According to an affidavit filed with the Pittsburg County court, Benjamin Staples, 24, is accused of biting a 4-month-old boy in the leg and hitting the child in late July.

The charge followed an investigation by McAlester Police after the child seen in the emergency room at a McAlester hospital for injuries to his leg and shoulder.

The mother told police that Staples had watched her son while she was at work. In the affidavit, police said they interviewed Staples who told them he had fallen on the child, injuring the child's shoulder.

An exam of the child, according to the affidavit, showed the child also had injuries that were consistent with bite marks and that neither Staples nor the child's mother could explain.

Staples remains in the Pittsburg County jail on a $50,000 bond