A preliminary hearing in the child abuse case against James Earl Alexander was delayed Tuesday in Rhea County General Sessions Court.
Alexander, 48, is accused of causing numerous injuries to 10-month-old girl left in his care in early-January, according to Rhea County Sheriff’s Office investigator Rocky Potter.
Alexander is charged with aggravated child abuse along with some misdemeanor charges he netted when Dayton police chased him and arrested him. At the time of Alexander’s arrest on Jan. 4, Potter said the victim had bruises all over her upper body along with a hairline fracture.
Alexander is charged under the state’s Haley’s Law, which raises the level of the felony from a class B to class A. He remains jailed on $100,000 bond and has not yet hired an attorney, court officials said.
Alexander’s preliminary hearing has been reset for Feb. 26.