By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A 31-year-old Alabaster man is facing up to 10 years in prison after he was arrested and charged with allegedly beating a child with a belt in late November.

The Pelham Police Department arrested Eryck Vernardo Burchfield, who lists an address on Willow Creek Circle in Alabaster, on Dec. 14 and charged him with one felony count of willful child abuse.

According to his arrest warrant, Birchfield allegedly “struck the victim multiple times across the back and his sides with a belt,” between Nov. 16-28. The victim, who was younger than 18, was in Birchfield’s custody at the time of the alleged incidents.

Willful child abuse is a Class C felony, according to Alabama law, and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Birchfield was released from the Shelby County Jail the same day he was arrested after posting a $10,000 bond, according to jail records. He is set to appear in Shelby County District Court on Jan. 11 for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m.