FALLS CREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Falls Creek man is facing criminal charges following an investigation into a Childline report of suspected child abuse.
Court documents indicate the DuBois-based State Police filed criminal charges against 40-year-old Kevin Brian Bortz, of Falls Creek.
According to a criminal complaint, around 10:47 a.m. on Thursday, November 14, Trooper Osborne of the DuBois-based State Police was assigned a Childline report of suspected child abuse and neglect.
The Childline report was related to an incident between Kevin Brian Bortz and a known juvenile that occurred on November 12 at a residence in Falls Creek Borough.
Trooper Osborne interviewed the juvenile at an area school on November 14. According to the complaint, the juvenile reported Kevin Brian Bortz got angry with him because he did not want to eat his dinner. Bortz then allegedly grabbed the juvenile by the back of the neck and struck him with an open hand.
The complaint notes the juvenile had a large bruise on the left side of his cheek and neck. Photographs of the victim’s injuries were captured and logged as evidence.
Around 3:30 p.m., Trooper Osborne met Bortz and the juvenile’s mother. According to the complaint, when questioned, Bortz stated the juvenile was “acting out” about eating his dinner. Bortz said things then “got heated” and he struck the juvenile about three times on the cheek/neck area.
Bortz was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana at 4:00 p.m. on November 14, on the following charges:
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
He remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing for the case has not yet been scheduled.