Gregory Lynn Ross, who recently turned 23 and lives at 716 Chris Drive near Bethpage Road, was charged in September with first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his 5-week-old daughter, Kayla Briann Ross.

On Monday, the Cabarrus County grand jury formally charged him with a first degree sex offense. Kayla, born July 25, 1999, died Sept. 3 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte of a fractured skull, fractured ribs and other injuries.

An autopsy report also found injuries indicating the infant was sexually abused,according to the N.C. Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

Kannapolis police said Ross gave different accounts of what happened to the infant. The two were at home alone as the 19-year-old mother, Charity, worked at a convenience store.

Ross initially said he threw his daughter on a recliner because she wouldn’t stop crying. When she continued to cry, he shook her, police said he told them.

Later, Ross told investigators that he dropped the baby on the recliner. She bounced onto her stomach and hit her head on the floor, he told police. He then rocked her to sleep. Charity told police she came home to find her daughter limp and barely breathing in her crib and her husband asleep in bed. She called 911.

The couple’s other child, a 11

Ross posted $200,000 bond in December and was freed from jail. Judge William Freeman of Winston-Salem approved Ross’ release.