Man jailed for harsh spanking

Friday, February 27, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

AUBURN - An Auburn man went so overboard with corporal punishment recently he's been jailed on felony charges of child cruelty, police said.

David Sloat, 39, used shoes, books and his hand to discipline an 8-year-old male relative, injuring the boy, according to his arrest warrants.

Sloat is charged with two counts of child cruelty, first degree, for allegedly striking the child on two separate occasions.

He faces an additional charge of child cruelty, third degree, for spanking the boy in the presence of a female relative younger than age 18.

The first incident occurred in September, when Sloat allegedly struck the boy across the buttocks with a shoe at his Wheeler Road home.

On Jan. 29, a Gwinnett police officer returned to the home to follow up on a report filed with the Division of Family and Children Services.

The officer found "definite and visible bruising" caused when Sloat spanked the boy with his hand and a book, according to police.

Police secured warrants and Sloat was taken into custody Wednesday. He remains in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.

Gwinnett Daily Post