Steve Lockler was arraigned Wednesday on first-degree murder child abuse charges in the death of his 4-year-old stepson.

Lockler, who is accused of causing the death of his 4-year-old stepson, could face the death penalty.

First Assistant District Attorney Ray Hasselman said Wednesday the state will likely file a Bill of Particulars seeking the death penalty and will ask for bond to be set aside.

Lockler, 32, is accused of punching his stepson, Christopher Barnard, twice in the stomach before spanking him with a belt for soiling his pants. Christopher was pronounced dead at Claremore Regional Hospital on the morning of April 28 from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

Authorities noted his body was covered with bruises, abrasions and other evidence of child abuse.

“ (Lockler is) a danger to the community and other children,” Hasselman said. Lockler’s bond was previously set at $500,000.

Members of Christopher’s family expressed mixed emotions following Lockler’s closed-circuit arraignment in Judge Erin Oquin’s Rogers County District courtroom.

Barnard’s father Floyd Moore, and other family members wept in the back of the courtroom as Hasselman indicated the state would seek the death penalty for Lockler.

Moore said he was pleased to hear Lockler will not be able to bond out of the Rogers County Jail, but did not agree with the state’s intent to seek the death penalty.

“I want him to suffer for what he did to my son,” Moore said outside the courtroom. “He should have to live with what he did every day for the rest of his life.”

According to Claremore Police, family members and Barnard’s former babysitter, reports of abuse had been made to both police and the Rogers County Department of Human Services for at least one year prior to Barnard’s death. Investigator Stan Brown said reports were taken by his department and turned over to DHS in April and August 2007. Documents regarding any reports to DHS of abuse of the child have not been made public.

Lockler will be appointed an attorney and is set to return to court at 9 a.m. June 9.

Also arrested in connection with the child’s death was his mother, Roxann Barnard. She was arrested May 5 and booked into jail on a charge of permitting child abuse.

A court date for Roxann Barnard has not been set.