Babysitting dad arrested for beating two young children (Bradenton, Florida)

Dad LEONARD PAYNE SR. was "watching" his two kids (ages 6 and 9) when he began to "physically and maliciously" batter them. Authorities found that the 9-year old, who is autistic, had "severe bruising and minor lacerations."

http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=11964194

Bradenton man arrested for beating his young children

Posted: Feb 10, 2010 12:11 PM CST
Updated: Feb 10, 2010 12:11 PM CST

BRADENTON – A Bradenton man has been arrested for beating his two young children.

On Monday evening, while watching his children, 30-year-old Leonard Payne Sr. physically and maliciously battered his 9-year-old and 6-year-old by striking them on the body with a plastic part of a toy from a toy racetrack.

This investigation was initiated after a Child Abuse Hotline call was made and initiated by Child Protection Services. They responded to the home of the Payne on Tuesday around 5pm with law enforcement to investigate the allegations and check the welfare of the children.

They made contact with Amanda Payne, who advised that she was on her way out to pick up the children, and that she would be back around 6pm if they wanted to come back and see the children.

They went back to the home on 14 Street West at 6pm and made contact with mom who stated that she didn't know where Leonard Payne Sr. was or the 9-year-old victim. It was alleged by the 6-year-old victim that his father hit him and his brother with the plastic, and that his brother was beat worse.

After many hours of interviews with the mother it was learned that the Leonard Payne Sr. may be staying with someone with the 9-year-old victim. Authorities responded to a home on 26th Street West and made contact with the homeowner. They were given consent by the homeowner to check the residence, and located Leonard Payne Sr. and the child in the rear room asleep.

Payne Sr. was taken into custody and the child was observed to have severe injuries in the way of severe bruising and minor lacerations from what appeared to be the object in question.

The 9-year-old victim is also autistic, and when asked what happened to his back he stated "daddy hurt, daddy hurt".

The child was turned over to Child Protective Services and transported back to the CPS office.

Leonard Payne Sr. was also transported to the CPID office and was interviewed. There, he confessed and explained why he physically struck the victims. He stated that on Monday night while watching TV he noticed that the 9-year-old had defecated himself and was trying to rub it on the 6-year-old. Payne Sr. said that this disgusted him and he became enraged and lost it. He grabbed the plastic racetrack and started to hit the boy on the back, and had to be stopped by his wife Amanda. After hitting the 9-year-old, Leonard Payne Sr. admitted to hitting the 6-year-old, stating that he was mad at the 6-year-old for letting the other boy do that to him, and that he wanted to teach him a lesson.

Payne Sr. said he kept the 9-year-old out of school due to the bruising and stated that he was going to wait a few days until the marks went away.

Payne Sr. says he knew he was wrong and that he should have handled the situation in a different way.

The injuries on the 9-year-old are mostly on his upper back and shoulders and appeared to severe with some lacerations. Payne Sr. stated that he was hitting him hard and through his shirt. The injury to the 6-year-old was minor with bruising and small scabbed marks.

Payne Sr. was transported to the Manatee County Jail and booked on child abuse charges.