Police: Dad beat 2-year-old with 'baby belt' (D'Iberville, Mississippi)

Dad WILLIAM CURTIS JONES III is one of these guys with an extensive criminal record (on house arrest for weapon conviction violation as former felon, drug dealing conviction, arrest for domestic violence and resisting arrest).

In short, this is the kind of dad who should NEVER be doing child care. This @$$wipe beat his 2-year-old with a so-called 'baby belt' (i.e. some weird weapon Daddy made out of braided leather, electrical tape, and "some type of hard object.") He is now charged with felony child abuse. Note that the baby not only had extensive contusions, but also had bite marks.

http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/21/2119773/police-father-beat-2-year-old.html

Police: Father beat 2-year-old with ‘baby belt’
By ROBIN FITZGERALD - rfitzgerald@sunherald.com

D’IBERVILLE — Police officials said a man charged with felony child abuse told detectives he used a “baby belt” to punish his 2-year-old child.

The girl was treated at a hospital Tuesday night after an apparent beating, said D’Iberville Police Capt. Keith Davis. Police took William Curtis Jones III, 28, into custody at his apartment on Mallett Road.

Records show Jones was under house arrest as a condition of probation on a recent weapon conviction.

“He described what he used as a ‘baby belt,’” Davis said. “It’s something he came up with to chastise the child.

“It’s a braided, leather-type contraption he put together with electrical tape around some type of hard object.”

The child was released from the hospital.

“She has some heavy contusions and possible bite marks on her arm,” Davis said.

“The hospital performed a CAT scan and deemed she checked out OK.”

Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain ordered Jones held on $100,000 bond.

Davis said police were called to Jones’ apartment Tuesday night for a complaint of an argument between the child’s mother and father.

“He appeared to be in an inebriated state and we felt it involved something more,” Davis said.

Police arrested Jones on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and resisting arrest.

The state Department of Corrections obtained a probation warrant to hold him in jail pending a hearing.

Davis said detectives questioned Jones on Wednesday and recovered an object believed to be the “baby belt.”

Police upgraded the misdemeanor assault charge to felony child abuse, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Records show Jones was convicted of delivery of a controlled substance in 2004.

A judge gave him a year to serve and 3 1/2 years’ probation.

In January, he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A judge sentenced him to five years and suspended prison time.

The judge ordered three years’ probation, requiring the first year served under house arrest.

Jones’ house arrest was to expire Jan. 25, 2011.

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/21/2119773/police-father-beat-2-year-old.html#ixzz0lr8kmZQW