A Chicago man faces decades in prison for neglect after another child told a social worker in October they were told to lie in initial interviews with police.

Jeremiah Thompson, 33, is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury, a Level 1 felony; aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony; and obstruction of justice, a Level 5 felony.

His case was unsealed Monday. He is in custody, held on a $12,000 cash bond.

Gary Detective Sean Melendez wrote that police responded at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 24 to Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary. A nurse told the officer that the mother, Lashaunda Castleberry, said the 21-month-old boy was having “stomach problems.”

When he was examined, hospital staff found burns on his cheeks, abdomen and thigh. His right eye was swollen and bruised

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