COURTLAND—A Boykins man has entered a plea of not guilty to four charges of child abuse, including felonious aggravated malicious wounding.

Edward Person Sr., 35, previously of Margarettsville, N.C., was at Southampton County Circuit Court on Oct. 29 for his arraignment. The trial is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23.

Person and Wanda Singletary were arrested in early May following an investigation that began in January, according to Maj. Gene Drewery, spokesman for the Southampton County Sheriff’s Department.

Person also faces two counts of assault and battery of a family member, both considered misdemeanors, which allegedly took place on Sept. 8, 2010, and Oct. 7, 2012, respectively. The fourth charge, assault and battery, also a misdemeanor, allegedly took place Dec. 12, 2010.

None of the charges against Wanda Singletary were certified.

The children remain in foster care.