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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala man charged with aggravated child abuse on infant in critical condition

Christopher Ronald Bairan

An Ocala man was arrested Tuesday on a variety of charges, the most egregious of which was aggravated child abuse.

Christopher Ronald Bairan, 36, was taken into custody in connection with a case from Dec. 20 when Marion County sheriff’s deputies were called to West Marion Hospital in reference to an unresponsive infant. Major Crimes detectives responded to the hospital and discovered that the baby was suffering from a traumatic injury resulting in a brain bleed and bruises on her body. The infant remains in critical condition.

A detective interviewed the victim’s mother, who revealed that Bairan had been with the infant for several hours before waking her up with the unresponsive baby in his arms. Bairan told the detective the infant had been “whiny and fussy” all day but otherwise had behaved normally. He claimed he had fallen asleep with the infant and when he awoke she was no longer responsive, a sheriff’s office report states.

Bairan couldn’t provide any explanation for the infant’s injuries and a walk through of the residence didn’t reveal any explanation for the injuries the baby sustained. Doctors determined the infant sustained abusive head trauma consistent with violent shaking. When told of the diagnosis, Bairan refused to discuss the incident further with detectives.

After Bairan was placed under arrest, detectives reported that he had cocaine and prescription pills on him. He was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with aggravated child abuse, possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He also is facing charges for violating his probation in Broward County on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and impersonating a police officer.

Bairan is being held on no bond and is due in court Feb. 16 at 9 a.m., jail records show.