Facebook poster Dominic Gaines, who uploaded photo of child and BB gun, goes free

COLERAIN TWP, Ohio - The young father who posted a photo on Facebook of himself holding his infant daughter and a BB gun is no longer facing charges of child endangering.

Charges against Domonic Gaines were dropped Monday when no prosecuting witnesses appeared for his trial in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

In January, the child’s mother, Ashley Price, dropped off their daughter, Paradise, at Gaines’ home for the weekend, police said. Hours later, Gaines was under arrest. 

"The close proximity of the BB gun to the child created a substantial risk of physical harm and safety of the child," the affidavit in the case read.

Price said the whole thing was a joke.

"What happened was my baby's father, Domonic, took a picture of my daughter and him sitting down with a BB gun and my mother, Sylvia Price, called the news and called the police saying my daughter was in danger, but she wasn't," Price said. "The gun was fake. It was a BB gun. It wasn't loaded or nothing. My daughter was in no kind of danger whatsoever and it got turned into something it wasn't supposed to be."