Joshua Bailey, 34, is facing a felony injury to a child charge after Bonneville County Sheriff's Office deputies say he refused to allow doctors at Idaho Falls Community Hospital to treat his critically ill 10-year-old daughter, who was suffering from a serious bacterial infection and life-threatening sepsis complications.
Background
Court documents obtained by East Idaho News detail the disturbing sequence of events that unfolded on Sept. 23, 2025, when Bailey brought his daughter—the child has cerebral palsy and relies on two feeding tubes—to the hospital. Medical staff immediately recognized the severity of her condition and began urging Bailey to consent to treatment.
According to the documents, doctors explained to Bailey that his daughter had gone septic due to an elevated heart rate and depleted oxygen supply causing choking spells. Hospital personnel warned him that every hour without treatment increased her odds of dying by 10%.
"Due to the (doctor's) opinion that (his daughter) needs medical care now or she will die, (law enforcement is) enforcing imminent danger and he did not have the ability to refuse care anymore," court documents stated about the moment authorities became involved.
The Investigation
Despite the warnings, Bailey allegedly refused to allow doctors to run tests on his daughter or examine her feeding tubes to determine the source of the infection. Deputies with the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office were called to the hospital after staff reported a "potential disgruntled parent."
"With his decision to refuse care for his daughter, he was placing her life in imminent danger," police wrote in the court documents.
Bailey allegedly told doctors that "the hospital machines were causing these issues and she did not need any help," according to law enforcement accounts. Child Protective Services was ultimately called in and assisted with overriding Bailey's protests to secure medical care for the child.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Bailey in December 2025. Deputies did not take him into custody until this month. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released on June 14.
Key Takeaways
- Joshua Bailey, 34, is charged with felony injury to a child in Bonneville County, Idaho
- His 10-year-old daughter has cerebral palsy and two feeding tubes
- The child was hospitalized Sept. 23, 2025, with sepsis from a bacterial infection
- Bailey allegedly refused treatment and told doctors 'the hospital machines' were causing her issues
- Doctors warned her odds of dying increased by 10% for every hour without treatment
- Child Protective Services intervened to override the father's objections
What's Next
Bailey is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 1. The current health status of his daughter was not immediately clear from available court documents.
The investigation was conducted by the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office.