Bartow, Florida -- A Polk man faces child abuse charges after police say he beat a 2-year-old boy with a clothes hanger.
Deputies say David Lee Sinnett, of Bartow, beat the boy so severely he suffered several bruises on his face and body and a fractured orbital bone on his right eye area. A doctor's examination of the child's eye revealed he could have permanent eye damage or loss of sight.
Authorities were alerted to the incident after a witness saw a picture later in the day of Sinnett choking and hitting the boy. She told the Sinnett's mother who picked up the child and called police.
During an interview with police, the boy's mother said Sinnett became angry with the boy, who has a speech impediment, because he could not pronounce his sister's name correctly. She said Sinnett hit the boy's butt with the hanger but she did not see him hit the boy anywhere else.
Sinnett told police he does get angry when the boy doesn't say words correctly because he feels he doesn't try. He said he hit the child's back but he got the facial injuries falling off a skateboard several days ago.
Sinnett, 32, it has been charged with Child Abuse.
He also has a violent history in Polk County with eight prior arrests. His most recent arrest was in 2005 for Second Degree Murder and Attempted Second Degree Murder. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison and released in May 2010.
Other arrests include Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon and Resisting Arrest.
Detectives also arrested 29-year-old Arlene Tilson Thursday afternoon for neglecting to do anything to help the child during the incident. Witnesses told detectives she was at the home at the time and did not try to stop it or call police.
Tilson's relationship to the boy is not being revealed.
She has been charged with Child Neglect and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.