Dad charged with child abuse after repeatedly "slapping" 7-year-old daughter (Ocala, Florida)

UNNAMED DAD has been arrested and charged with child abuse after repeatedly "slapping" his 7-year-old daughter. Given that this little girl had "extensive bruising" on both sides of her face, from her ears to her cheeks, can we really call this a "slapping" though?

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT: Notice that there is no mention of this little girl's mother, just a step. Where is Mom? Is she alive, dead? If alive, did Daddy have custody? Visitation? What? Woeful lack of answers here.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20100617/ARTICLES/100619733/1402/NEWS?Title=Man-charged-with-child-abuse-after-reportedly-slapping-daughter

Man charged with child abuse after reportedly slapping daughter

By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer

Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 2:26 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 2:26 p.m.

OCALA - A father accused of slapping his 7-year-old daughter in the face multiple times and, reportedly using a sandal to hit her in the face because she pinched a boy, was arrested Wednesday and charged with child abuse.

Early last month, officials received a report that the little girl had extensive bruising on both sides of her face, extending from her ears to her cheeks.

The child first told Detective Jorge Fernandez the injuries were caused by her 7-year-old cousin. She later told the detective her father hit her in the face because she pinched the little boy.

She also told the official that make-up was placed on her face to conceal the injuries.

The victim’s stepmother told the detective the father grabbed his daughter’s arm and slapped her in the face several times.

He allegedly also used a sandal to hit the girl.

The man told the detective a cousin caused his daughter’s injuries and that when he noticed the red marks on her face, he decided she should wear make-up to cover them.

He was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail.