A Bloomer man accused of repeatedly abusing his 27-day-old son was held on a $200,000 cash bond after a judge raised it from $50,000. Dayne A. Paulson, 23, appeared in court on May 1, when he was initially held on $50,000 cash bond.
Judge James Isaacson granted prosecutors' request to raise Paulson's bond from $50,000 to $200,000, according to the Leader-Telegram. Earlier reports placed Paulson at the Chippewa County Jail. The Chippewa County Courthouse is at 711 N. Bridge St. in Chippewa Falls.
How the Case Began
The case traces back to April 25, when law enforcement was dispatched to Marshfield Hospital in Eau Claire following a possible child abuse report, the station's report states. Paulson and the infant's mother had brought the 27-day-old baby in with a cut above his eye, a bruised eye, and an injury to his septum, according to Law & Crime. A doctor reported more serious suspected injuries as well, including a likely brain bleed and skull fracture, per the same account.
The infant was intubated for medical care and later transferred by helicopter to a pediatric intensive care unit in Marshfield, per the seed evidence in the case. Two social workers interviewed Paulson at the Chippewa County Jail on April 27, and he allegedly told them he hurt the baby because the infant would not settle down and stop crying, Law & Crime reported.
Admissions Described in the Complaint
According to the criminal complaint, Paulson said he punched the infant in the eye because the baby would not stop crying. When asked about the infant's broken legs, Paulson admitted he had dragged the baby toward a diaper, per the complaint. In a separate police interview, he also admitted he had been too rough with the infant on more than one occasion.
Paulson was charged in May with one count of repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm in Chippewa County. He was initially held on $50,000 cash bond at his first court appearance on May 1, before prosecutor Sheila Yohnk requested the bond be raised, a request Judge Isaacson granted, increasing it to $200,000. A hearing in the case was later postponed and reset for Aug. 27, according to the Leader-Telegram.
Bond Conditions and What's Next
Should Paulson post bond, he is barred from contacting the infant, the infant's mother, or any juveniles under the conditions set in the case. Earlier reports placed him in custody. A hearing in the case was later postponed and reset for Aug. 27.
