Jarvis Sims and Christina Thurman, the parents of an infant boy who was left in a car seat on the median of a busy street Christmas morning, were charged with misdemeanor child abuse and reckless endangerment Monday in Adams County court. 

Sims, 42, who has been held in the Adams County jail since the child was found, was given a $2,500 cash/surety bond on the condition that his sobriety is monitored.

He faces an extra misdemeanor charge of a violation of a protective order.

Thurman, 33, has been out on bond since her first appearance. She was asked to apply for legal assistance.

To be charged with a misdemeanor for child abuse, the abuse must not result in a serious injury to the child. The 1-month-old, who was left by his father in only a diaper, had cocaine in his urine, according to the arrest affidavit. The infant was otherwise healthy, doctors said.

The original suggested counts for both parents were for felony child abuse, but those charges were reduced by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. 

“The parents were having some sort of an argument. During the argument one of them left the baby and each one of them assumed that the other would take care of it,” said Adams County Sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Sherman. The infant was left alone for several minutes. 

A resident reported finding the baby at 8:15 a.m. She told deputies that she saw a couple arguing and then witnessed a man dressed in all black set the car seat with the child in it down on the median and walk away.

According to the arrest report, when she yelled to the man, he told her “That’s her kid. Give it to her.” 

The resident took the baby to a nearby gas station and called her sister, unsure of what to do because she was wanted on warrants, the affidavit reported. Her sister then drove to the gas station and called 911. Deputies arrived at the scene around 9:20 a.m.

Deputies found Thurman later and met with her at a nearby McDonald’s. Both parents were arrested that afternoon. 

The baby was transferred to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services, and it was unclear Monday of his whereabouts.

A post about the incident on the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page was shared more than 1,200 times and garnered 400 comments, some offering to adopt the child. 

The next appearance for Sims and Thurman is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Adams County.