SAN DIEGO - Trial was delayed until July 27 for a Camp Pendleton Marine accused of shaking and dropping his infant son, causing blindness in one eye.

James Lewis Charles, 31, is charged with felony child abuse and allegations he caused great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces up to 22 years in prison.

Judge David Danielsen agreed today to put off the trial because a key defense witness was unavailable.

Charles was arrested in December 2008 after he took his son to a hospital.

During an earlier hearing, sheriff's Detective Leonel Gurrola testified he interviewed Charles at the hospital and later at the defendant's Poway home.

The detective said Charles admitted to tossing his son onto a hard surface 30 times and to shaking the baby.

Charles' lawyer, Vikas Bajaj, said during the same hearing that his client may have caused the injuries by accident. Bajaj said his client grabbed his son in an effort to keep him from rolling off a bed.

Marine accused of abuse on infant son expected to start trial today

SAN DIEGO - A Camp Pendleton Marine accused of shaking and dropping his infant son, causing blindness in one eye, was expected in a downtown San Diego courtroom today for the start of his trial.

James Lewis Charles, 30, is charged with felony child abuse and allegations he caused great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces up to 22 years in prison.

The defendant was arrested in December 2008 after he took his son to a hospital.

During an earlier hearing, sheriff's Detective Leonel Gurrola testified he interviewed Charles at the hospital and later at the defendant's Poway home.

The detective said Charles admitted to tossing his son onto a hard surface 30 times and to shaking the baby.

Charles' lawyer, Vikas Bajaj, said during the same hearing that her client may have caused the injuries by accident. Bajaj said his client grabbed his son in an effort to keep him from rolling off a bed.