Batavia Township man charged after allegedly causing injuries to infant

On Dec. 8 at 1:15 p.m., the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit was contacted by Clermont County Children’s Protective Services, who reported that a 2-week-old had been transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for treatment of symptoms that presented to be an eye infection. After hospital staff further examined the child, additional injuries were identified, including a skull fracture, mouth injuries and bruising to the arms and legs.

The child was admitted to the hospital for further treatment. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital social service staff contacted Clermont County CPS, who immediately contacted the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office to begin an investigation. Physicians at Children’s Hospital determined the injuries sustained by the child were non-accidental and a result of recent trauma.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office responded to the hospital to interview the infant’s mother and father in attempt to determine the cause of the child’s injuries. After speaking to both parents, it was determined that the child suffered injuries at their residence in Batavia Township. Sheriff’s Office detectives executed a search warrant at the residence to collect evidence and process the scene.

Dezmond Wallace, the child’s father, was cooperative and allegedly admitted to detectives he was responsible for injuries to the child, which were allegedly sustained on the morning of Dec. 6.

Wallace, 20, was charged with one count of endangering children and one count of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies. He was taken into custody by Clermont County deputies without incident.

This investigation remains ongoing and will be reviewed in its entirety with the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of additional charges to be presented to a grand jury.