SHELBY — A North Carolina man convicted of child abuse in the death of his 2-year-old stepson has been found dead in a jail cell.

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of Dwight Stacy Justice, who was found Tuesday in his cell at the Cleveland County Detention Center.

The 45-year-old was convicted of child abuse but found innocent of first-degree murder last week in the death of 2-year-old Jeremiah Swafford. Justice was awaiting sentencing in that case.

Authorities say Justice’s cell mate alerted them that Justice was no longer snoring in his sleep. A detention officer found he had no pulse and wasn’t breathing.

Officials say the cause of death is expected to be determined by the SBI investigation.