A California man is facing criminal charges after authorities arrested him for reportedly tying his toddler son to up a tree at a homeless camping site.

CBS Sacramento reports that Jeffery Wilson, 27, was arrested on July 27 after authorities received a call about a camping site along Highway 20 in Willits. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the property owner called in to complain about homeless people camping out on the property illegally.

Deputies had already warned Wilson to clean up and leave on several other occasions previously. During their latest visit, authorities saw Wilson’s 2-year-old son tied up to a tree by a rope, wearing only a diaper. Authorities reported that the toddler looked in need of food and water, while standing close to hazardous objects.

“The rope was tied around the child’s wrist and secured to a tree branch,” Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said. ‘The child was also lacking basic food and water, was only clothed in a diaper, and was exposed to numerous hazards within the encampment.”

Wilson was arrested and charged with felony child neglect and abuse, as well as possession of controlled substances.

Authorities booked Wilson into the Mendocino County Jail. He’s being held in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.

The boy was placed into the custody of Child Protective Services. It’s unclear where the child’s mother was during the incident.

[Feature Photo:Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office]