A father in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida has criminal charges pending after police reported that his three kids claimed they were beaten so severely that they fled their home to get away from him.
The man, who is 32 years old, was arrested on Monday, December 11, 2017. He faces charges of aggravated child abuse, child abuse that does not include bodily harm and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of the children, according to the arrest affidavit from the Fort Lauderdale Police. In preparing to face these charges it would be wise to obtain a qualified Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney.
Also according to the arrest affidavit, the children’s stepmother reported them as missing on November 28, shortly after the three ran away from their home. They were later found at the home of a relative in Opalocka. However, the children all had noticeable bruises and scars consistent with abuse, according to the affidavit.
The police affidavit stated that the children told police that their father would routinely and regularly punch and slap them in their faces. One of the children said they were beaten because they incorrectly swept the floor. Another child said that they were beaten up by the father for not doing well in class, for getting a bad grade and for skipping classes, according to the affidavit.
The three children asserted to the police that they ran away because they were sick of the constant beatings, according to the police affidavit. They even said that, at one point, they were beaten so severely that they bled.
In addition, the children said that there were drugs used regularly in their presence. They also reported that their father smoked marijuana at home, according to the arrest affidavit.
The three children were examined by a nurse and were found to have endured physical abuse, family violence, mental injury and substance abuse.
According to the affidavit, the father denied all allegations of abuse. The children were put into foster care earlier in the month.
The man appeared in court on Tuesday, December 11 and was held on $30,500 bond. The judge also told him to stay away from the children. According to records, the man was previously arrested for child neglect and domestic violence as far back as 2006.
Child abuse charges are very serious and require that you have an experienced Fort Lauderdale child abuse lawyer on your side. If you have such charges pending against you, contact the law firm of Hassett & Associates, P.A. at 954-791-3939 at your earliest convenience. You will be directed to a knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale child abuse lawyer who will immediately get started on your case.
