NASSAU COUNTY, Fla — A correction deputy with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Tuesday on felony child abuse charges, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. He was fired after his arrest.

Mason Codi Moore faces a third-degree felony charge of child abuse without great bodily harm on a 4-year-old autistic child, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators determined Moore used force against the child, who is nonverbal, that “exceeded what would be considered reasonable physical discipline,” the release states.

On Jan. 8, a detective with NCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division was called to Wolfson Children’s Hospital regarding a suspected child abuse that happened the day before. The sheriff’s office said the director of the Child Protection Team reported significant bruising on the child that was “inconsistent” with Moore’s explanation of how the child was injured.

Moore was employed with NCSO for one year, but was fired from his position as a correction deputy after his arrest.

“As law enforcement officers, we’re held to the highest standards of conduct, and we take any allegations of abuse extremely seriously, especially when they involve our most vulnerable citizens,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “The evidence in this case clearly showed that a serious crime was committed against a defenseless child.”