CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion Township father faces simple assault charges after allegedly striking his elementary school-aged son multiple times in the mouth because the child forgot his behavior sheet at school.
According to court records, 31-year-old Justin Lamar Harris, of Clarion, was charged with simple assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, following an investigation by State Police in Clarion.
The investigation began after the child reported the incident to a school employee on October 17.
According to the criminal complaint, the child told investigators his father struck him three times in the mouth with an open hand while wearing a diamond ring on October 15. State police observed injuries on the child’s lip consistent with being struck.
The school employee told police the student was absent on October 16. When he returned to school the following day, he began crying when asked about his lip injury and revealed his parents made him stay home because of the injury, not an illness, the complaint states.
When interviewed by police, Harris reportedly denied hitting his son in the mouth, claiming instead that he had spanked the child twice and sent him to his room. Harris told investigators his son “makes things up like this all the time” and attributed the bloody lip to the child playing outside with his brother according to the complaint.
State Trooper Van M. Lanzendorfer noted in the complaint that Harris was wearing multiple rings during their interview.
Harris is scheduled for a preliminary hearing, though court records do not yet show a hearing date.
The case will be prosecuted by the Clarion County District Attorney’s Office.