TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A Tallahassee man is facing child abuse charges after being accused of spanking a child 10-15 times with a frying pan.
Samuel Royce, 26, was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's on Aug. 9.
According to court documents, Leon County deputies received a report about an incident involving a child on June 8. Deputies say the victim was interviewed by investigators with the Child Protection Team the day before.
The incident occurred in Leon County, that's why LCSO was investigating the incident, but the victim is currently with his mother, who lives in Madison County.
During the interview, the victim told investigators that Royce spanked him with a frying pan. Documents say the child had multiple injuries and bruises on his back, buttocks, legs, and inner thigh.
Deputies then talked with the victim's mother, who said the victim visited Royce between the end of May until June 5. According to arrest documents, while at work, a babysitter called the victim's mother to say she found bruises on the victim's legs and buttocks.
When the victim's mother returned home and asked the child what happened, he stated, "[Royce] spanked me with a frying pan (10-15 times)." The victim said the incident took place in Royce's garage.
Documents state when the victim's mother asked why Royce hit him with a pan, the victim stated,"Because I didn't know the answer to something."
After looking at the discoloration of bruises and what appeared to be a burn mark on the victim's buttock, the victim's mother immediately called the Madison County Sheriff's Office to file a report. She then took him to the Madison County Memorial Hospital shortly afterwards.
On July 31, a Florida Department of Children and Families investigator made contact with Royce at his home. Royce stated although the victim was with him from the end of May to the beginning of June, he does not know the victim's injuries occurred.
Based on the evidence, he is being charged with child abuse without great bodily harm.
He was taken to the Leon County Detention Facility and is being held on $7,500 bond.
