MOUNT VERNON — A Mount Vernon man has been charged in a Nov. 12 incident where his dog attacked a baby.

Christopher S. Ballard, 32, is charged in Mount Vernon Municipal Court with failure to keep a vicious dog under reasonable control, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charge stems from an incident with a then-nine-month-old female infant.

Ballard was charged because of a previous instance with the same dog allegedly biting another child, said Mount Vernon Law Director Rob Broeren Wednesday.

Ballard has pleaded not guilty and his case has yet be scheduled for trial.

The attack occurred at a South Jackson Street residence in Mount Vernon. One of the residents of the house saw the dog, identified as a mixed-breed pit bull, biting the infant in the face and another resident forced the animal to stop, according to Mount Vernon Police reports.

Corey Woods, a member of the household who had previously identified himself as the infant’s older brother, said at the time that he had to forcibly rip the dog from the baby’s face.

The infant was treated on the scene, then transported to Knox Community Hospital. She was later flown by helicopter to Nationwide Children’s Hospital where it was determined that she had lacerations and several fractures. The child survived the attack, but her current condition is unknown at this time.

The dog was surrendered by Ballard to the Knox County Dog Warden and was euthanized in December.