WATERTOWN (AP) - Authorities have filed felony child abuse and drug charges against a Watertown man a day after he was acquitted of killing his girlfriend’s toddler.
Jay Barse, 26, made his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon. He’s charged with child abuse involving a victim younger than 7, two counts possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine and oxycodone - and keeping a place for use or sale of controlled substance.
A jury found him not guilty Monday of second-degree murder and the lesser offenses of first- and second-degree manslaughter for the March death of 14-month-old Serenity Seaboy. She was treated for head trauma but later died.
Serenity was the daughter of Barse’s ex-girlfriend, Sherry Scherer. They lived together at the time.
