A Middletown man killed a child�s kitten by tossing it out a window after the girl told her mom that he hit her, according to court documents.

Stephen Dodson Jr., 34, had threatened to kill the cat and the child�s mom if the girl told anyone about the sexual abuse he was inflicting upon her, the records show.

Still, the child, now 14, told someone her story about how Dodson allegedly starting abusing her when she was 5 years old.

Dodson, who also uses the name Stephen Davis, was arrested and arraigned Thursday on charges that include child rape and aggravated indecent assault on a child under 13. District Judge Daniel Baranoski set his bail at 10 percent of $50,000, citing the seriousness of the charges. Dodson told the court he can post the $5,000 needed for his release.

Dodson�s attorney, Sharif Abaza, in a quest for an unsecured bail, had pointed out that his client is a married father of two children, ages 10 and 11, and the accusations are 9 years old.

�These are just allegations at this point,� Abaza said.

Middletown Detective Andrew Amoroso began investigating the allegations in May after receiving a report of multiple incidents of sex abuse of a child that occurred between 2005 and 2007, according to court documents.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181;

email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia