ROCK HILL, S.C.,None — A Rock Hill man faces child abuse charges after police said a baby sitter noticed bite marks on one child and bruises on another, Channel 9's newspaper partner, The Herald in Rock Hill, reports.
Police charged 23-year-old Chris Roberts with two counts of unlawful neglect of a child. He was booked early Tuesday.
When the children were dropped off with a baby sitter Monday, the sitter noticed large bruises on a 4-year-old's face and a bite mark on a 2-year-old's face, according to the York County Sheriff's Office.
The 4-year-old told deputies he was spanked by a man he identified as "daddy," the report said.
Roberts, who is dating the children's mother, was watching them Friday while their mom was at work, the report said. According to the report, Roberts told the children's mother the injuries were the result of one child falling from the bed and landing on a toy, and of him "play biting" with the other.
However, the report said Roberts told officers that one of the children was tearing up things in the house, so he spanked him. Roberts told officers he then smacked the child across his face, the report said. Roberts confirmed the "play biting" remarks, saying when he nibbled on the child, the child jerked away, causing him to bite harder, the report said.
The Department of Social Services has been notified, according to the report, and the children were released to their mother.
Roberts is being held at the Moss Justice Center Wednesday on $20,000 bond.
WSOC
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