Dunlap Tortured Toddler, Judge Says

Judge James A. Plakas decided in court Monday afternoon that Dylan James Dunlap will remain in jail and be bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court for the child abuse charges against him.

Dunlap, 19, of Northville Township, was left in charge of a toddler with his girlfriend, who is the child's aunt, May 5 and 6 at an apartment on Northridge Drive in Northville Township. Police said they found the child with multiple bruises, burns and a bite mark. 

Dunlap's charges include child abuse to the first degree, torture and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, both of which carry potential life sentences. 

"That poor kid looks like he just spent three minutes in the ring with Mike Tyson," Plakas said in 35th District Court Monday as he looked at photos of the toddler's injuries. 

>>See video above of the judge's decision. 

Robert Mullen, Dunlap's attorney, said the injuries to the toddler were not severe enough to be qualified as torture. 

"We heard of no admission of the child into the burn unit. We heard nothing of skin grafts," he said. 

Aimee Fowler, the prosecuting attorney, described in her closing arguments the injuries to the boy detailed in his medical reports. Those included several burns and bruises across his body and a human bite mark on his inner right leg, she said.

These injuries were also confirmed by Lieutenant Michael Wildt of Northville Township police, who was the last witness to testify, and other witnesses throughout the hearing. He said he showed Dunlap the photographs during his interview with him, and Dunlap admitted to causing those injuries. 

Dunlap will be arraigned July 8.