A 23-year-old Greenfield man is in jail after an 11-month-old in his care suffered severe burns, according to court documents. The infant was first treated at Hancock Regional Hospital and was reported to be awaiting transfer to a pediatric specialty center in Indianapolis. The man is facing a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent, filed as a Level 5 felony, and is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.
According to Fox59, hospital staff at Hancock Regional called police on April 16 and asked for a child-neglect investigation. Court documents cited by the outlet identify the defendant as 23-year-old Eithean Stevens. Investigators were told that Stevens had been watching the child and fell asleep on a couch. The filings allege the toddler was later found crying and “under the faucet with hot water running,” with skin peeling. Stevens allegedly told police he put diaper rash cream on the burns and gave the child a sippy cup and food instead of calling 911 because he thought he would get in trouble.
Legal context for the charge
Neglect of a dependent is spelled out in Indiana law and can be charged at different felony levels depending on the harm described. As outlined by Justia, the offense is typically a Level 6 felony, but it becomes a Level 5 felony if the neglect results in bodily injury. It can be elevated further if serious bodily injury or death is involved. Under Indiana’s sentencing rules, a Level 5 felony carries a fixed prison term of one to six years, with an advisory sentence of three years, and any penalty would ultimately be set by a judge if Stevens is convicted.
Court dates, bond and next steps
Court documents referenced by Fox59 indicate Stevens was booked into the Hancock County Jail, where his bond was set at $50,000 cash. Those same online records list a pretrial conference for May 20 in Hancock Superior Court 1. The case is still in the preliminary stages, and prosecutors and defense counsel will have the opportunity to outline evidence and file motions before any trial is held.
Local trend and community concerns
Child-neglect cases have been drawing increased attention in Hancock County in recent months, as other incidents involving young children have surfaced in local coverage. For instance, WRTV reported on a separate Greenfield case where young children were removed from a home after repeated instances of a 2-year-old wandering unsupervised. Local advocates and officials frequently highlight the role of the Department of Child Services in more serious situations and say the agency coordinates with law enforcement on child safety and placement decisions.
Where the child was treated
Hancock Regional Hospital provided the initial emergency care for the injured infant, and the child was reported to be awaiting transfer to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for specialized treatment. Hancock Health serves as the primary emergency provider for Greenfield, while Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent functions as a regional pediatric specialty center that handles complex cases involving children in Indianapolis.
