The children were between ages 5 and 9 when the alleged abuse occurred, according to court documents.
FALL RIVER - A Fall River man has been arrested on child abuse charges stemming from allegations that he hit two young family members in his care with a belt on several occasions.
The children were between ages 5 and 9 when the alleged abuse occurred, according to court documents.
Fall River police this week arrested Ignacio Parades, 30, of 12 Orchard St., who was ordered held on $1,500 cash bail after being arraigned Tuesday in Fall River District Court.
Parades is charged with four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child under 14. According to court documents, Fall River police detectives began investigating the case after one of the children went to school recently with a noticeable limp. The school adjustment counselor contacted the Department of Children and Families after the child reported that Parades had hit them with a belt for breaking the rules at school.
The child had bruises and marks on their legs. Both children were subsequently interviewed at the Bristol County Children's Advocacy Center in Fall River, where they reported that Parades had hit them with a belt, according to police reports.
On Monday, Fall River police officers arrested Parades and executed a search warrant for his Orchard Street apartment, where they seized a brown Michael Kors belt that the children said would be found in a top dresser drawer in his bedroom, according to court documents.
Parades is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on May 1.
Email Brian Fraga at bfraga@heraldnews.com