Sitter accused of burning Toms River youngster’s face

A New Brunswick man, who police said was minding a six-year-old in Toms River, is jailed for allegedly burning the youngster's head and face with a lighter.

Kareem Hayes, 36, was arrested November 29 by Toms River police in the Criminal Investigations Unit, who said that it took place in a house in the township. He's charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Sources close to the investigation speculate that Hayes was a fried of the child's mother. The youngster sustained second- and third-degree burns of the face, neck and ear.

Third-degree burns penetrate the outer skin and affect deeper epidermal layers, causing charring, discoloration and numbmess. Second-degree burns result in blisters, swelling and redness.

Hayes was held on $250,000 bail in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River

Toms River PD Detective Thomas Grosse and Special Victims Unit Detective Lindsey Most of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office led the investigation.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.