Father accused of severely beating son

A Scott County man is in custody after Scott County deputies and other investigators say he severely beat his 13-year-old son.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said Juan Gonzales Morin Jr., 39, is charged with child abuse after allegedly assaulting the child after finding a behavioral note from the child's school.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office, assisting an investigator Tuesday from the Missouri Children's Division, observed the child had been injured.

Officers determined Morin struck his son several times, covered his nose to prevent him from breathing, slammed the child's head against the wall, kicked him in the stomach, beat him with a clothes hanger and belt and bit the child on the arm, according to a news release from the sheriff's department.

Morin was arrested Friday and has admitted to some of the allegations, the release stated.

The child has been removed from the residence by the children's division, and Morin is being held on $75,000 bond.