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Henrico man accused of ‘severe’ child abuse

Posted at 7:29 PM, Jan 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-26 19:29:18-05

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A  Sandston man has been arrested for allegedly severely abusing a child.

Henrico police said 24-year-old Michael Helms Dunkelberger abused or neglected a child under his care sometime between May 31, 2014 through Sept. 1, 2014. He was also charged with malicious bodily injury.

Dunkelberger was arraigned on Monday in Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Court. His bond has been set for $20,000 and has been ordered he cannot go anywhere within 1000 feet of the victim.

Dunkelberger is scheduled to appear in court on March 27.

"They are obviously very series charges, they are felonies you can go to prison for," Todd Stone, a legal analyst for CBS 6, said.

Stone said these are the highest charges of abuse someone can be accused of and that Dunkelberger faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Dunkelberger's co-workers were stunned by the news. One man called him a "nice guy."

"It's very scary, especially have three kids that live here, it's very scary," said Brandee Mathews, who lives across the street from Dunkelberger.

Mathews described Dunkelberger as very quiet and "never saw him talking to anybody."

Michael Helms Dunkelberger