PARIS — Police charged a local man with breaking the ribs of his 1-month-old daughter.

Joshua Dodd, 24, of Main Street, is charged with a felony count of assault on a child under 6 years old and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child after the Nov. 12 incident in Paris, police said.

Dodd made an initial appearance before an Oxford County District Court judge Monday.

According to an affidavit, a case worker for the Department of Health and Human Services contacted police about concerns from a doctor who found two broken ribs and bruising on the infant’s hands during a checkup.

A report by Paris police Lt. Jeffrey Lange said he interviewed Dodd, who told authorities he lifted his daughter from her crib by her arms without supporting her from underneath and used his fingers to push down on the girl’s stomach due to bowel complications. Dodd told Lange he witnessed those same techniques being performed by a doctor and believed them to be sanctioned and non-aggressive, according to the report.

Dodd was arrested after the interview and taken to the Oxford County Jail on Nov. 14. Bail has been set at $500 and he remained in jail Tuesday evening, a corrections officer said.

The felony count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and $5,000 fine.

ccrobsy@sunjournal.com