TACOMA, Wash. -- Prosecutors have filed a second-degree child abuse charge against the man who police said abused and tortured an 18-month-old boy.

Todd "TJ" Booth, 23, appeared in court for arraignment Wednesday. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and the judge ordered him held on $150,000 bail.

Booth turned himself in Tuesday night at the Pierce County Corrections Center.

Investigators said Booth is responsible for assaulting and burning an 18-month-old boy named Jevais, who was brought to a Tacoma hospital by two women on Sunday. Police said the boy showed signs of abuse and torture.

"He (Booth) assaulted the baby. The baby has some burns on him and blood coming from certain parts. It was obvious he was hit. We have information that the baby had been in that condition for a few days at least before making it to the hospital," said Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

A woman who dropped the toddler at the hospital, Printess Williams, told police a gang member had left the boy at her Midland home. She said she and her mother noticed injuries to the child and took him to the emergency room. They told investigators at the time that they did not know who the boy's mother was and that they had never seen the child before.

Police said they knew they were lied to about the child and who he belonged to because the women involved were afraid of Booth. Detectives said the women allegedly made up the story about the gang member because they feared Booth would retaliate against them, and the investigation has been plagued with conflicting stories.

"The women did know a lot more, but the extenuating circumstances here are that this guy (Booth) is a very dangerous guy who made threats to harm or kill people," said Troyer.

According to police documents, Booth has been the subject of four restraining orders filed by women in 2004, 2006 and 2008. In the documents, one woman said she feared for her life and the life of her son. Other women described being hit, choked and had their lives and the lives of their family members threatened by Booth.

Police said that neither of the women who brought Jevais to the hospital will be charged with crimes, nor will the boy's mother, who came to the police station Tuesday morning and was questioned by police.

Police said the abused boy's mother worked for Booth as a prostitute.

The boy was released from the hospital Tuesday and is in foster care.