CLEARFIELD – A father has been accused of choking his son because he was taking too long to get ready for school.
Baren Lynn Berg, 33, of Houtzdale has been charged by Clearfield-based state police with strangulation, F2; simple assault, M1; and harassment, S.
All charges against Berg were bound over to the Court of Common Pleas for further disposition following a preliminary hearing Wednesday. He’s currently incarcerated in county jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Dec. 1, the child’s mother told state police the child was assaulted by his father, Berg, while he was with him.
The 9-year-old child was getting ready for school on the date in question. He said his father became angry because it was taking him too long to brush his hair.
State police said that Berg began yelling at the child and then choked him with one hand. He allegedly squeezed hard enough to restrict the child’s breathing and with such force to push the child against the wall.
State police observed a mark on the child’s neck. The child said it was from his father choking him. He also said he was crying the entire time and afraid of his father.
