EMLENTON, Pa. (EYT) — An Emlenton man allegedly assaulted a young child while in his care at a residence located in Emlenton Borough, Venango County.

According to online court documents, Officer O’Neil, of Emlenton Police Department, filed criminal charges against 33-year-old Catlin James Adams, of Emlenton, in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office.

According to a criminal complaint, on Thursday, January 27, the Emlenton Police Department received an email from Venango County PIC (Protective, Intake, and Crisis) Response Unit regarding an incident. The email contained the PIC General Protective Services Referral form, as well as pictures of a young child with a significant amount of bruising on his left side, back, and buttocks area.

The report stated that the young child went to school with bruises all down his lower back onto his buttocks. The boy reported to the school that he did not know what had happened to cause the bruises. Later during the interview, he disclosed to the school that his younger sister had hit him. The school spoke to the sister about this information, and she denied the allegations. Neither child would provide any further information, the complaint indicates.

The young child gave two different versions of what happened to CYS workers, the complaint continues.

On Thursday, January 27, (a known woman) was interviewed at the Emlenton Borough Police Department. (The known woman) stated that Catlin James Adams was watching the children on the evening of January 25 because she was working from 3:40 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. The young child was already in bed when she came home. She was not advised of any incidents while she was at work, according to the complaint.

On Monday, January 30, Catlin Adams was interviewed at the Emlenton Borough Police Department. He stated that he did not know how the child obtained the bruising. When asked to provide a timeline of events for the prior week, he stated that he could not remember what he did. The interview was then concluded, the complaint states.

The young child was interviewed by a caseworker on January 28, and he stated that Adams had struck him on the buttocks three days prior. Adams struck him because he stole food and ran upstairs. This allegation would have occurred on the night that (the known woman) was working and Adams was watching both children at home, the complaint indicates.

On Monday February 13, at 9:00 a.m., a forensic interview was conducted, and no new information was obtained. A video copy of the interview was obtained.

Adams faces the following charges:

– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary

A date for the preliminary hearing has not been set.