Spring City couple arrested in child abuse investigation involving six children

SPRING CITY—A Spring City couple was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 23, on suspicion of child abuse after their six children told investigators they had been struck with belts and tree branches and denied food as punishment, according to a North Valley Police Department booking affidavit.

Both parents were each booked into the Sanpete County Jail for investigation of 11 counts of child abuse. The Messenger is withholding the parents’ names at this time to avoid identifying the minor children.

The booking allegations included five counts of intentional or knowing child abuse, a Class A misdemeanor, and six counts involving child abuse committed with criminal negligence, a Class C misdemeanor.

The allegations are based on the police investigation only. The Messenger could not verify as of Tuesday that criminal charges based on the law enforcement investigation had been filed.

According to the booking affidavit, the Utah Division of Child and Family Services contacted North Valley police about a week before the arrests and asked the department to investigate allegations involving six children ranging in age from 2 to 16.

The affidavit states the alleged incidents occurred in Spring City, but the case was referred to North Valley because Spring City police had a conflict of interest involving the suspects.

Investigators interviewed the children and reviewed photographs that police said showed significant bruising on one child’s arms and legs.

According to the affidavit, one child told investigators that when the children got in trouble, their father would have them go outside and cut a branch from a tree to use as a “switch.” The child told an officer he had been struck on the legs with a switch at least twice, leaving welts, and said he and his siblings had also been struck with a belt.

A second child told investigators she had also been struck with a switch hard enough to leave welts on her legs. She also alleged her mother had slapped children and struck them with a spoon. The child also reported being pulled around the house by her arms and pushed down stairs.

The children also alleged that food was withheld as punishment, according to the affidavit. Investigators reported that the children described occasions when they became so hungry they cried.

DCFS also reported that the children would leave the home and go to a neighbor seeking food, according to the affidavit.

Investigators obtained a warrant to place the children in state protective custody, according to the police account.

According to the affidavit, when police attempted to question the parents, both declined to participate in questioning without attorneys present.

Police indicated in the booking affidavit that the investigation was continuing and that additional allegations could result.

Under Utah law, a person commits child abuse by inflicting an injury on a child while having care or custody of the child, or causing or permitting another person to inflict an injury.

State law defines an injury to include certain physical or psychological injuries, including bruising.

Utah law also provides exceptions for reasonable discipline or management of a child and certain uses of reasonable and necessary physical force. Whether conduct meets the elements of a criminal offense is determined through the criminal justice process.