Dad facing child torture charges for whipping 5-month-old son (Florence, Alabama)

Dad JAMES ROBERT SMITH appears to be yet another one of those clueless f***s who whips a baby for crying. Crying! The nerve of that baby!

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110113/NEWS/110119924/1011/NEWS?Title=Man-accused-of-whipping-baby

Man accused of whipping baby

By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 11:06 p.m.

A Lauderdale County man who faces child torture charges after spanking his 5-month-old son so hard it left bruises will have his first court appearance in February. James Robert Smith, 19, 202 Chilton Ave., Florence, is charged with torture and willful abuse of a child under 1, Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis said.

Smith Court officials said Smith will appear before Lauderdale District Judge Carole Medley on Feb. 7.

Smith was arrested Sunday after deputies were called to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital to investigate a child abuse allegation.

Travis Clemmons, chief investigator with the sheriff's office, said the baby had severe bruising to his backside.

“(Smith) said he was trying to get the baby to stop crying and he whipped him with his hand,” Clemmons said. Willis said whipping a 5-month-old baby is going too far.

“When the child is that young and they're crying, they're usually either sick, hungry or needing a diaper change,” Willis said. “A 5-month-old is too young to be disciplined; they don't understand why they're being whipped.”

The incident reportedly occurred Friday at a residence on Lauderdale 457 in the Underwood community.

“Smith was living with the child and the baby's mother at the residence, and the mother took the baby to the hospital because of the bruising,” Clemmons said.

Smith was released from the Lauderdale County Detention Center on $1,000 bail.

A person convicted of torture and willful abuse of a child under a year old faces a prison sentence of 1-10 years.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.