An Ionia man is facing abuse charges after admitting to whipping two young girls with a belt.
Patrick Ryan Jones, 28, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, both class D felonies. He is in custody at the Pettis County Jail on a $10,000 bond, cash or surety.
The children’s mother came to the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office to report physical abuse of the two girls, age 9 and 6. She said the girls returned home July 1 with bruises after spending time at Jones’ residence, according to a probable cause statement.
The mother said she noticed a bruise on the 6-year-old’s leg and asked what happened. The girl later disclosed Jones had “whooped” her with a belt, according to the statement.
She then spoke with the 9-year-old and noticed a large bruise on her right buttock. The older girl said Jones had “whooped” her with a belt, as well.
The girls’ mother got in contact with Jones, who reportedly told her he “whipped them with his belt because they were lying to him about a candy bar.”
Pettis County detective Tollie Rowe and Sgt. John Cline contacted Jones at his residence Wednesday and told him they wanted to speak with him about the girls’ bruises. He said he understood and agreed to come to the Sheriff’s Office, where Rowe read him his Miranda rights.
Jones said he spanked both girls with a belt on their bare buttocks, and he agreed the spanking was excessive, according to the probable cause statement. He said he spanked them on multiple occasions because they had lied to him over minor things and were fighting.
He reportedly told Cline he lost his temper while spanking the girls. While speaking with the detectives, Jones appeared remorseful for his actions, Rowe said in the statement.
Pettis County Prosecutor Phillip Sawyer filed charges against Jones on Thursday. An arraignment date has not been entered onto his case.
