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STEVEN HADDOX |
A 31-year-old man admitted beating his 7-year-old son for not eating liver and onions.
Steven Haddox of Bellefontaine entered a guilty plea to a felony count of endangering children during hearings Monday in Logan County Common Pleas Court.
On Dec. 12, he spanked the boy with a wood paddle covered with black tape every five minutes, beginning with one strike and adding an additional strike each time he resumed the punishment. When he reached seven strikes, he kept going, hitting the boy 10 times. He also reportedly struck him across the face with his hand on two occasions.
His wife Cassandra Haddox, 25, of St. Marys was at the 212 Walker St. house and witnessed the beatings. She entered a guilty plea to child endangering and told investigators she did not report the abuse for fear of her own safety.
The abuse came to light after Bellefontaine City Schools employees learned the boy went to school and was unable to sit down because of his injuries.
Sentencing was set for June 20.