RIALTO >> A 21-year-old Rialto man is facing multiple charges for allegedly sexually and physically abusing a 10-month-old girl, officials said.
Joseph Patrick Laybourne pleaded not guilty Aug. 28 through video arraignment to two counts of lewd acts with a child, torture and willful cruelty to a child, according to court documents. He is expected to be back in West Valley Superior Court on Friday for a pre-preliminary hearing, records indicate.
Rialto Police investigators were alerted to a possible abuse case after firefighters were called to a home near Bloomington and Willow avenues for an injured baby, said Sgt. Paul Stella.
“They concluded that the injuries were consistent with possible physical and sexual abuse,” said Stella, adding he couldn’t elaborate as the case was still under investigation. After an investigation, Laybourne was arrested around 11:45 p.m. that night and booked into West Valley Detention Center, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s booking information.
The relationship between Laybourne and the child was not released.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Officer Floyd Blue at the Rialto Police Department at 909-820-2521.