TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A man has been charged with child abuse after elementary school officials noticed bruises and marks all over on the child's body.
Maurice Figgers, 37, was arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's Office for physically abusing a child.
On March 26, school staff at Sabal Palm Elementary School told LCSO and Florida Department of Children and Families about injuries on the victim's body.
The victim was examined by medical staff at the Child Protection Team. They found the victim to have facial scrapes, a lip laceration, bruising and swelling on the hip, and bruising on the inside of his forearm, among many other injuries.
Deputies then interviewed the victim's mother who stated that she has not physically disciplined the victim in several months. She told deputies that her husband, Figgers, primarily takes care of the victim at home.
She told investigators the victim has developmental delays and a speech impairment, which has made potty training him difficult.
The mother told deputies that on March 25, her husband grew frustrated with the victim and spanked him with a belt.
The mother said she walked into the room during the spanking, but says she only saw her husband hit the victim twice. Later on, while giving the victim a bath, the mother noticed the bruising and marks on the victim. She felt they were excessive and became upset.
She confronted Figgers about the situation and said he began crying and told her he spanked the victim more than he intended.
While talking with deputies at the Sheriff's Office, he admitted to spanking the victim on three consecutive days but denied hitting the victim anywhere but on his bottom with the belt.
When deputies showed him a picture of a mark on the victim's shoulder blade area, he stated the victim moved during the spanking but could not explain the multiple marks on the victim's back.
Based on the investigation, Figgers was arrested and transported to the Leon County Detention Facility.
Deputies believed this abuse appears to be ongoing and not an isolated incident so the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified.
Figgers was being held in jail on a $3,500 bond but has since bonded out.
