Newport News, Va. – A man has been arrested for child abuse after police received a Child Protective Services referral about a 3-year-old boy suffering from two significant burns.

Police say the toddler received the burns when he was left in the care of his mother’s boyfriend while she was at work. The boyfriend told the mother that the burns were accidental. Neither the mother nor the boyfriend took the boy to the hospital for the injuries.

A relative saw the burns several days later and took the boy to the hospital for treatment. Medical personnel at the hospital notified Child Protective Services.

Special Victims Unit detectives conducted an “extensive and lengthy investigation” and charged the mother’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Nathan Horn of North Dakota, with malicious wounding and felony child neglect.

Police located Horn in Minot, North Dakota and brought him back to Newport News. He was placed in the custody of the Newport News City Jail on February 5.

Officials say the victim’s burns appear to be healing.