HOUSTON – A man is accused of beating his girlfriend's 11-year-old son and the boy's mother is in trouble for failing to protect him, according to Houston police.
Robert Taylor and LaTour Williams were charged with injury to a child.
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Police were dispatched to a middle school in southwest Houston on May 25 after receiving reports of an injured child. Officers arrived to find the 11-year-old with a black eye and a busted bottom lip. He also had a visible red mark on his neck and arm, according to documents.
The boy was transported to Texas Children's Hospital to be checked out. Physicians noted his injuries, which consisted of bruising to the genital area, and bruising on the left arm, bilateral legs, mouth, gums and neck.
According to investigators, Taylor was making the boy do planks as a form of punishment when he got mad, picked him up from under his armpits and threw him against the wall.
The boy said Taylor then began beating him with an extension cord, striking him at least 20 times on the face, neck and near his genitals. The boy said his mother witnessed the beating, but did nothing to stop it.
The boy's 15-year-old brother told investigators he was not in the room during the assault, but heard his brother crying and saying "stop." He also said his little brother would sometimes have his food taken away as punishment.
Taylor admitted to spanking the boy with the extension cord, but said he only struck him on the legs and rear end. Taylor said the boys' mother would normally handle the discipline, but he would step in to help only when they got out of control, documents state.
When asked about the boy being denied food, Taylor allegedly said the boy was always fed, but if he was on punishment, he would lose time to eat and the food would be taken away.
Police also questioned the boy's mother. The mother said she and Taylor had been dating for one year and they both disciplined her children.
Williams said when Taylor came home that day, she told him her sons were misbehaving and tearing things up. Taylor allegedly ordered the boys to do push-ups as a form of punishment. Williams said her youngest boy did as he was told, but her 11-year-old refused.
She said Taylor did strike the boy with the extension cord, but it was only three or four times. Williams said Taylor then talked to the boys for about an hour after they had a cooling-off period.
The mother told investigators she disciplines her kids when they did not act right by taking things away, putting them on their knees or talking to them.
Officers then showed her pictures of the bruises the boy sustained.
The mother allegedly recognized some of the bruises as being a result of the extension cord and the busted lip, she said, she believed happened when he hit a pole.
Williams said she did not stop Taylor from striking her son until they both agreed he'd "had enough."
Williams explained that her son did have a time limit on meals when he was being punished, but would be allowed to eat a little at a time. She said they also took snacks and juice away from him.
As stated in the Texas Family Code Section 151.001, Williams had a duty as a mother to protect her son from harm and keep him from dangerous individuals.
Police said Taylor has a criminal history. He has one violent criminal offense and one drug offense, and is considered a dangerous person to have around children.
Official charges were filed against Taylor on Sept. 5. He was arrested and jailed with no bond. Charges were also filed against the mom.