A Florida woman, Tamecha Jean, 32, who allegedly scorched her 9-year-old son with a hot iron for being forgetful, was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse on Monday, April 17 in Broward County.
CBS Miami has reported that investigators said Jean burned her son twice on the chest after she became upset that the child forgot to bring some paperwork to school.
Accordingly, the investigators with Pembroke Pines Police Department and the Broward Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Jean told them she was whipping her son with a belt while holding a hot iron in her hand, on which she claims the iron may have touched him accidentally.
Pembroke Pines Police Department Capt. Al Xiques said: ‘It’s just outrageous to use a hot iron as a type of punishment. It seems more like a type of torture. Maybe she accidentally burned him twice while trying to spank him with a belt.”
The report reveals that the alleged abuse took place in February, but police found two scars on the boy’s chest indicating past burns, which correlates with the child’s statements to police.
Police said they got a tip on an abuse hotline at about 4 p.m. Monday pertaining to the 9-year-old.
During their appearance in court, Jean’s attorney requested the judge for a $1,500 bail, but the prosecutors asked for a higher amount.
Prosecutor Eric Linder said: “I’m sorry, the violence alleged in this case is just so aggravating that it completely outweighs any mitigating factors, your honor. I’m going to be requesting a $20,000 bond,” said.
However, Judge Christopher Pole determined Jean did not have to pay any bail money stating;
“What I’m going to do is, I’m going to release her ROR to Level 2 pre-trial, released with an [ankle] monitor. I’m going to ask pre-trial to waive the cost of a pre-trial monitor. She is to have no contact in any form or manner with her three children until further order of the family court division.”
Furthermore, the judge told Jean in her second appearance in family court that she can have supervised visits with two of her children, but could have no contact with the little 9-year-old son who was burned.
A prosecutor said: “Your honor, the child is fearful of his mother. We would ask for no contact with the mother. He is afraid of his mother.”
All three children have been taken into state-licensed foster care.
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