Ricky Atkinson, 32, of Mooroopna, appeared briefly in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 24, for a filing hearing.
Police allege Mr Atkinson stole a Volkswagen T-Roc from a supermarket car park on Maude St just before 2pm on Friday, November 14.
He allegedly removed a sleeping 15-month-old boy from the vehicle, placing him in a box in the car park before driving away.
The car’s owner returned to the parking space and soon found the toddler, who was not physically injured and still sleeping.
Police found the stolen car with a broken windscreen in Mooroopna parkland the next day.
Mr Atkinson is charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft of a vehicle and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
He was also charged with failing to stop on police direction in Mooroopna the same day.
He has also been charged over an unrelated incident in the Shepparton and Barmah areas on Monday, November 17.
Charges over this incident in Shepparton include dangerous driving while being pursued by police, theft of an Isuzu D-Max ute, theft of a trailer and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The Barmah charges over this incident are two counts of aggravated reckless exposure of a police officer to risk by driving and driving dangerously while pursued by police.
His court appearance also saw charges listed from October 31 of theft of a Hyundai Kona from Euro Car in Shepparton, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Mr Atkinson was arrested by police in central Shepparton at about 2pm on Friday, November 21.
He was remanded in custody over the weekend, to face court Monday.
Dressed in a white T-shirt and grey tracksuit pants, Mr Atkinson sat quietly throughout his brief appearance in court.
His solicitor Luke Slater did not apply for bail for his client, but said he had been assessed by Rumbalara on Monday for possible admission to a rehabilitation facility.
Mr Atkinson was remanded in custody until mid-December, but Mr Slater said there was a prospect that a bail application may be made before then.
Mr Slater also asked that Mr Atkinson be assessed by prison medical staff for a back injury he suffered while being arrested.
