Custodial dad arrested for scalding feet of 5-year-old son; child has 1st and 2nd degree burns (Krotz Springs, Louisiana)

Custodial dad CAREY CORTEZ has been arrested on charges of cruelty to a juvenile. Seems Daddy Dearest deliberately submerged the feet of his 5-year-old son in scalding water. The boy's feet have first- and second-degree burns. The stepmom has been arrested for obstruction of justice. Not a word on what happened to mom, but this is typical of these articles.

http://www.dailyworld.com/article/20091105/NEWS01/911050301

Police arrest child's father
By Judy Bastien • jbastien@dailyworld.com • November 5, 2009

Carey Cortez, 32, of Krotz Springs, the father of a 5-year-old Park Vista preschool student, was arrested Tuesday on charges of cruelty to a juvenile.

The child's stepmother, Annie Smith, was arrested for obstruction of justice, Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow said.

Cortez is accused of submerging his child's feet in scalding water. The child was treated at Opelousas General Health System for second-degree burns under his toes and first-degree burns on the tops of his feet, Gallow said.

If convicted of the charge, Cortez could face a sentence of up to 10 years, said Gallow, who was personally notified about the child's condition by Park Vista Principal Ulysse Joubert, who also notified the Louisiana Office of Children's Services.

"I received the phone call from the principal indicating that he had a situation where he believed the child may have been injured at the hands of the parents," Gallow said, adding that police subsequently verified that the child had been injured.

Smith was arrested for allegedly attempting to interfere with the police investigation, he said.

"She attempted to persuade the child to say that what happened didn't happen, "Gallow said. "And that's unacceptable."

The child is now in the care of the Office of Children's Services pending a further police investigation.

Joubert and a representative of OCS both said they were unable to provide details about the incident at this time.