ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A former Asheville police officer has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child abuse.

Twenty-eight-year-old Aubrey Gerrard Green was sentenced in Buncombe County Superior Court on Thursday to 60 days in jail suspended for 12 months. Green also was ordered to perform 24 hours of community service, pay a $100 fine.

Assistant District Attorney Megan Apple said Green must also continue counseling for the 3-year-old girl.

He was arrested Nov. 9 and accused of spanking the girl so hard she had bruises.

Green was put on administrative leave when he was arrested. He resigned from the job he had held since 2007 in December.

District Attorney Ron Moore said the injury was discovered when the girl's grandmother took her to the Department of Social Services, which started an investigation and called police.