Felony abuse charge stems from ‘discipline’

A Superior man accused of slapping one child and striking another with a metal spatula and belt made an appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Friday.

Maurice Anton Williams, 22, faces two counts felony physical abuse of a child-intentionally cause bodily harm.

He was released on a $500 signature bond and ordered to have no contact with either child.

According to the criminal complaint:

Williams is accused of slapping a 9-year-old child so hard on the face that it left a visible handprint during a December incident. He also is accused of hitting a 6-year-old with a metal spatula and whipping the child with a belt with metal rivets between July and December 2012.

When questioned by police, Williams said it wasn’t him leaving marks on the children. He told Investigator Mike Jaszczak that he had the older children “whoop” the younger ones. He said there was never any abuse; there was discipline but no abuse.

When asked, Williams said when he was a child. he would be disciplined with a swat on the hand with a spatula, belt or other item.

He then indicated he would hit the children on the back of their hands, spank them and sometimes hit them in the head or bottom.

“The defendant stated he didn’t know if it was child abuse but it was just discipline,” the complaint stated.

If convicted, Williams could face up to six years imprisonment and fined up to $10,000 for each count. A preliminary hearing is set for March 20.

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