Rachin McCoy appears in District Court, Newport, where Judge Stephen P. Erickson yesterday set bail at $500,000 but then ordered him held as an alleged probation violator.

The Providence Journal Frieda Squires

NEWPORT — A local man has been charged with assaulting his six-week-old daughter, who was admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital Tuesday night with fractures of the skull and ribs.

Rachin McCoy, 21, was brought to District Court yesterday on a charge of first-degree child abuse. Judge Stephen P. Erickson set bail at $500,000 with surety on that charge, but he ordered that McCoy — also known as Shaun Rogers — be held without bail as an alleged probation violator.

The state Department of Children, Youth and Families became involved with the Newport police investigation Tuesday night, DCYF spokeswoman Stephanie Terry said.

McCoy told Detectives Kevin P. Sullivan and James Evan Hazel that the baby’s injuries were caused by “falling off the couch” of his home, in the Festival Field Apartments at 90 Girard Ave. But the nature of the injuries did not support that, said Sgt. John Barker.

The baby’s mother, who was not identified by the police, has not been charged.

McCoy has a criminal record of marijuana possession and simple assault

Judge Stephen P. Erickson yesterday referred McCoy to a public defender.

McCoy’s neighbors who know him or the baby’s mother said yesterday they were shocked. Daniel Antone, 20, who lives next door to McCoy, said he attended Rogers High School with him and could not believe what the police told him. Antone said he has a two-month-old baby of his own.

Antone said McCoy had “gotten in a little bit of trouble before but it was never anything violent. He is a good guy. I never expected anything like this.” He said he has heard crying from next door but never anything unusual.

As Antone spoke, detectives took a large beige couch and a crib with a Winnie the Pooh mobile from McCoy’s apartment.

Another neighbor, Amanda Carlson, 19, of apartment 192, who is pregnant and has a 2-year-old son, said she didn’t sleep Tuesday night after a police officer knocked on her door and told her McCoy’s baby had been taken to the hospital.

“I was wondering what happened. I watch CSI. I was saying I hope he didn’t beat the baby,” she said.

amilkovi@projo.com