Teen Arrested On Child Abuse Charge

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Pontotoc County man is behind bars in connection with a child abuse case involving an infant.

Deputies responded to a 911 call from a house on Loss Road last week, to an infant that needed medical attention.

“They had called 911 about the child being unresponsive,” said Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask.

He says the infant was in the care of Sean Michael Cooper, 19, when the injuries occurred.

The sheriff says Cooper was living with the child’s family. Sheriff Mask says the parents were at work when the alleged abuse occurred.

“He was keeping the child, the parents were not at home,” Sheriff Mask said.

The child was taken to NMMC in Tupelo and transferred to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital.

Sheriff Mask says doctors contacted his office with concerns about her injuries and the investigation was underway.

“The hospitals and emergency room people are really on top of everything. I mean, when someone, or a child comes in, we don’t know. That’s the only way we can find out, unless we go to the scene and see something actually happening,” Mask said.

Cooper’s bond is set at $750,000.

The sheriff says the 5 month old is on life support.

The sheriff says additional charges could be filed.

If the child dies, Cooper’s charge could be upgraded to murder.