FARMINGTON -- A judge set bail at $50,000 for an 18-year-old man accused of trying to strangle a 5-year-old boy.
Dustin Harley Christensen-Day, of Kaysville, appeared in 2nd District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with two counts of second-degree felony child abuse. He has been held in Davis County Jail on no bail since his arrest.
Christensen-Day also entered two not guilty pleas to the charges. Another court hearing has been set for Wednesday.
Defense attorney Michael Edwards asked Judge David Hamilton to set $20,000 bail for Christensen-Day, saying his client has no previous criminal history.
Edwards said Christensen-Day has a place to live in Layton if he posts bail. He said his client has been suffering from a drug addiction, which he has tried to overcome.
Deputy Davis County Attorney Cristina Ortega said she is concerned by statements Christensen-Day made to police after he was arrested.
Christensen-Day admitted he tried to strangle the boy twice, but that "he also has strong feelings to harm others," Ortega said.
Christensen-Day told police he has been obsessed with thoughts of harming others, is suffering from depression and has had suicidal thoughts, Ortega said.
"I'm concerned that if he is out, he will pose a risk to others as well as to himself," Ortega said, asking the judge to keep Christensen-Day in jail on no bail or in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Hamilton then set the bail for $50,000.
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