BCSO: Man beats toddler, shaves child's head for not eating

Armando Herrera Jr., 22, charged with injury to a child

SAN ANTONIO – A 22-year-old man is accused of abusing a 2-year-old girl by hitting her with a piece of plastic and leaving her with bruises.

An arrest affidavit stated that the suspect, Armando Herrera Jr., told Bexar County Sheriff's Office investigators that he was angry with the child for not eating and for throwing food.

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In addition, investigators said Herrera shaved the girl's head and shaved lines into her eyebrows.

The affidavit stated that the alleged abuse came to light this week, when a witness noticed red and purple bruises on the child's back and buttocks.

That witness and another witness called the sheriff's office on Wednesday, saying they feared that the toddler was about to be taken to a place where Herrera might hurt her again, the affidavit stated.

The child's mother told investigators that the beating happened on June 9.  However, she said she also saw Herrera mistreat her daughter earlier in the month, by holding his hand over her mouth while she was crying, the affidavit stated.

Detectives said they also spoke with Herrera, who admitted to hitting the girl with the stem of a plastic rose.

The affidavit stated that Herrera told them that he shaved her head because she had lice. Herrera said that when he shaved lines in her eyebrows, he "was just having fun," the affidavit stated.

The 2-year-old and a 5-month-old child who lived in the home were placed into protective custody.

Herrera was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of injury to a child.


About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.