A Paragould man has been sentenced to probation after admitting to injuring his 7-month-old daughter by squeezing her face and head, according to court records.
Layton Davis, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor, in connection with the March 2026 incident. Circuit Judge Randy Philhours sentenced him to 12 months of probation and ordered him to pay all court costs, fees, and fines. Davis is also required to complete anger management classes as part of his plea agreement.
The Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division notified the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on March 14 after the 7-month-old was taken to St. Bernards Hospital Emergency Room with visible injuries. According to an affidavit, the mother told deputies that bruises had developed below the baby’s eye after being in the care of Davis, her husband.
Initially, Davis claimed the child had fallen off a bed, the document stated. However, when the bruising began to worsen and the mother insisted on taking the infant to the hospital, Davis admitted to squeezing the baby’s face and head, which caused the injuries, the affidavit explained. Deputies noted marks on the infant’s head and under her left eye.
Davis was initially charged with second-degree domestic battering, a Class C felony, but the charge was later reduced as part of the plea negotiations.
Court proceedings concluded with Davis’s sentencing last week. His probation terms and anger management requirement aim to address his actions while ensuring future accountability, according to the case’s sentencing order.