MITCHELL – A Mitchell man is facing felony charges of domestic battery on a family member under the age of 14.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested 42-year-old Robert Lemmons Sr. after police received a report from Mitchell Junior High School about possible child abuse.
The children lived in a home on Art Gallery Road.
The two children told forensic investigators they were punched and kicked and that Lemmons had used his fist to hit them.
One child claims they were kicked and his head struck a door and started “gushing” blood.
It was also reported that the children were paddled after “roughhousing”. They were struck on the head, ribs, and knees when the paddle finally broke. One of the boys suffered whelps on his hands after Lemmons struck him on the palm of his hands.
Another child suffered a black eye after being hit multiple times in the face for not splitting enough wood.
The children shared with the investigator numerous abuse, including being burned with a lighter, having bloody noses, bruises, and lacerations, and being hit with a crowbar.
The children were examined at IU Health Bedford Hospital and the doctor found numerous bruises in different stages of healing and burns.
Lemmons is facing two counts of domestic battery with bodily injury on a person under the age of 14, strangulation, and two counts of neglect of a dependent. According to court records a no-contact order was filed preventing Lemmons from having any contact with the children. He posted a cash bond of $1,000 on Tuesday, Jan. 10th, and was released from jail.
