NORWICH – A Norwich man accused of fracturing his girlfriend's three-year-old son's face and eye socket “maintains his innocence” at his felony court arraignment and his bail amount is reduced.

On Feb. 26 at approximately 5:31 p.m., the Norwich Police Department received a call from Chenango County Child Protective Services reporting an assault involving a male toddler.

29-year-old Zane T. Abbott of Mitchell Street in Norwich was arrested following an investigation into the report, since his girlfriend's three-year-old son was allegedly under his care when the boy sustained serious physical injuries, including two facial fractures and a fractured left eye socket.

He was initially arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

While the mother was not charged with any crime, the boy was temporarily placed with other family members after he was treated at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

On March 18, Abbott was indicted by a grand jury.

It is alleged, per the indictment, on Feb. 26 at a Mitchell Street residence in the City of Norwich, Abbott – with intent to cause physical injury to his girlfriend's three-year-old son – did so by striking him and knocking him down, which caused a fractured left orbital socket and multiple bruises and abrasions to the boy’s body.

On April 17, Abbott was arraigned in Chenango County Court on two counts of assault in the second degree, a class D felony; assault in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

He pleaded not guilty on all charges.

“This defendant is accused of viciously assaulting a child,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride. “I would ask bail to be raised to $50,000 to keep him away from the place where the children live that are the victims.”