A man accused of burning and hitting his 5-year-old stepson as forms of punishment now faces criminal charges.
Sir-Romeo Rojelio Javier Lucero, 27, of Ogden, was charged with child abuse.
On May 20, the victim’s daycare facility noted several injuries on the boy, including what appeared to be a healing burn on his hand, according to charging documents.
“Due to the serious nature of the wounds, DCFS removed (the boy) from the home, and a day or two later at the Christmas Box House, (he) disclosed that the injuries were caused by his stepdad Romeo Lucero with a belt and that he was afraid of Romeo,” the charges state.
During a second interview on May 22, the boy disclosed that Lucero had hit him with a belt, and “held his hand to a space heater as a form of punishment,” according to the charges. “It was also disclosed that Mr. Lucero wrapped a towel around the child’s neck, strangling his airway.”
Other forms of “punishment” included “forcing (the child) to take extremely hot or cold baths, hitting him with the belt, hitting him with his hand, hitting him with a clothes hanger, and throwing items at him,” investigators wrote in the charges.
As the investigation continued, investigators also learned that Lucero would squeeze the boy’s genitals as another form of punishment, and at least one time used the stinger of a dead wasp to poke the boy’s genitals, according to the charges.
“Mr. Lucero was not cooperative when contacted by police by phone. When asked further questions about the case, Mr. Lucero would only say, ‘You’re the detective, figure it out,’” the charges state.
The boy told police that he “never wants to see Mr. Lucero again,” according to court documents.
Ogden man charged with hitting, burning stepson as ‘punishment’
An Ogden man accused of causing multiple injuries to his 5-year-old stepson during various forms of “punishment” has been charged with child abuse.
www.deseret.com
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