RALEIGH, N.C. (TCN) — Police arrested a 21-year-old woman this week for allegedly punching her infant daughter and leaving her in a cold car while she went to work.
Wake County court records show Nikita Jones was taken into custody Dec. 2, 10 days after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of intentional child abuse causing serious physical injury and misdemeanor child abuse.
According to documents cited by WRAL-TV, on Nov. 20, Jones hit the 6-week-old girl in the face, resulting in bruises, swelling, and scratches on her face. The next day, she allegedly showed up to work at a local McDonald’s while the infant remained alone in the vehicle and not buckled into a car seat. WRAL reports the temperature on Nov. 21 reached about 40 degrees. Jones reportedly did not keep the car on for heat, either.
Jones is in custody at the Wake County Jail with bond set at $35,000.