Dad arraigned on child abuse charges for hitting 13-year-old son (Enid, Oklahoma)

Dad TONY EUGENE EDWARES has been arraigned on a felony count of child abuse for hiting his 13-year-old son, who appears to have developmental disabilities.

http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_240001021.html?keyword=topstory

Published: August 27, 2009 11:10 pm
Man faces felony child abuse
By Cass Rains, Staff Writer

A 39-year-old Enid man was arraigned Thursday on a felony count of child abuse.

Tony Eugene Edwards faces up to a year in county jail, life in prison and a fine of $500 to $5,000 if convicted of the charge.

Edwards is accused of hitting his 13-year-old son across the face and striking him across the buttocks with a belt.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, police were sent on a welfare check for a 13-year-old child about 10:12 p.m. Aug. 21.

When police arrived they spoke with an 11-year-old girl and asked where the 13-year-old boy was. The girl said her dad had just beaten him, according to court documents, and before officers could ask what happened, the boy ran from the home crying and repeatedly saying, “My dad hit me.”

Police note in the affidavit it was apparent by the boy’s mannerisms and speech he has an intellectual disability.The girl told police she was left in charge while her parents went to the 26th Street Bar to play in a pool tournament.

Police asked the girl what happened, and she said her brother got the water spigot in the kitchen and sprayed water throughout the kitchen and living room, according to the affidavit. She said she called her dad and told him what her brother had done.

The girl told police Edwards came home and took her brother to his bedroom and told the other children to stay in the living room. The girl said she could hear Edwards yelling and the boy crying, according to the affidavit. She said Edwards then took the boy to his bedroom and she heard him yell at the boy to take his pants off. She said she heard loud smacks, the boy crying and the shower turn on, according to the affidavit. She said after that, Edwards left the residence.

When police spoke with the 13-year-old about what happened he again said, “My dad hit me.” The boy said Edwards hit him across his face and buttocks.

Police noted finger-shaped redness along the boy’s jawline on both sides of his face. Officers also saw raised red marks across the boy’s buttocks. The boy told police Edwards hit him with his belt and held his head under water in the shower and got his head wet, according to the affidavit.

Police spoke with Edwards and he told them he was at the bar when his daughter called and told him what his 13-year-old had done.

Edwards told police he came home and “busted” the boy’s butt, according to the affidavit.

Edwards also said he took the boy to the shower and got him wet to show him he did not like to be wet so he shouldn’t spray water around the house.

When asked, Edwards told police he struck the boy in the boy’s room and his own and had used both his hand and belt.

While finishing the investigation, an officer heard Edwards on the phone making arrangements for work and told the person he was talking to, “Well, I busted his butt good,” according to the affidavit. Police then placed Edwards under arrest for child abuse.Edwards is free on $10,000 bond and was ordered to return to court Sept. 28 for a bond appearance.