Man Pleads Innocent to Felony Child Abuse : Crime: He may face more charges when inquiry into death of his girlfriend’s 22-month-old son is completed.

A house painter pleaded not guilty Friday to felony child abuse in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 22-month-old son, and he could face more serious charges once authorities complete their investigation, officials said.

Brian Laudenback, 32, of Newport Beach was charged last month after the March 25 death of Tyler Jaeger, the son of his girlfriend, Karey Jaeger, 22. Laudenback was baby-sitting the toddler while the boy’s mother went to her job as a special education teacher.

Before that, the child was taken to Hoag Hospital on March 18 for treatment of a large bump on his head that turned out to be a fractured skull. Laudenback told Jaeger the boy hurt himself during a fall, and the injuries were consistent with a tumble, officials said.

The child was brought back to the hospital on March 25 with additional injuries, but he could not be revived, officials said. Police said they arrested Laudenback the same day after learning of suspicious bruising on the boy’s body and the earlier head injury.

Laudenback was arraigned Friday at Harbor Municipal Court in Newport Beach, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 3, Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrick Donahue said.

Laudenback, who faces a single charge of felony corporal punishment on a child, could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if convicted.

A preliminary autopsy indicated that the child died of abnormal bleeding from a cut liver and pancreas, caused by injuries from a blunt instrument, police said. Prosecutors said they are awaiting a coroner’s report to determine whether homicide charges should be filed.