Alleged baby beater shot a dog in 2009

FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 23-year-old man was arraigned Monday on torture and first-degree child abuse charges after he allegedly beat the 9-month-old daughter of his girlfriend.

Donald Thomas Bayne admitted striking the child several times while she was lying in a crib, Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague told 24 Hour News 8. At the time, he was watching the baby while the mother was at work.

"This is an extremely disturbing case," Tague said. "We have a 10-month-old child in a crib who is severely beaten. He admitted to striking the child repeatedly with full force blows to the head. Certainly this is just a devastating case."

In court, the baby was said to be 9 months old.

The baby, rushed to the hospital last Wednesday, is in stable condition at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was seriously injured and her prognosis is not clear at this time.

Bayne was arrested Friday after Child Protective Services and Fruitport Public Safety detectives got involved.

Court records reveal Bayne is on probation for a 2009 incident in which he shot and beat a dog to death.

At that time, Bayne was living with his grandparents in Laketon Township when he saw the neighbor's dog in a wooded area behind the home. He claimed the dog turned on him when he tried to chase it from the property.

But the police investigation revealed Bayne shot the dog at least twice and then beat the dog, crushing its head. He then dragged the animal into the wooded area and tried covering it with snow.

Bayne's bond was set at $1 million. He is expected to be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 16.