FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man accused of physically abusing a toddler is due to appear in court this week..

According to court documents, 25-year-old Richard Alan Jones Jr. is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, on the following charges:

– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary

According to a criminal complaint, on Wednesday, September 19, Patrolman Harrah, of the Franklin Police Department, was assigned to a Children’s and Youth Services report stating that a two-year-old male victim was seen at Meadville Medical Center with bruising to his buttocks. The physicians reported that abuse was suspected and that the victim had stated that “Richie whooped him.”

Interviews conducted by Franklin Police Officers found that the victim was in the care of Richard Jones on Dale Avenue, in Franklin, on September 18.

It was discovered that the victim’s mother had left the child in Jones’ care at approximately 4:00 p.m. when she left for work. Shortly thereafter, Jones contacted the mother to report that the victim had fallen down some stairs, and the mother came home, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Jones denied the allegations of abuse and stated that he had never spanked or physically corrected the victim in any manner.

Patrolman Harrah was advised that during the interview, “Jones displayed several signs of being deceitful,” the complaint states.

The victim’s mother stated that she had bathed and dressed the child right before getting ready for work, and there was no bruising on the child at that time, the complaint states.

CYS sent the photographs of the victim injuries to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Center to have them reviewed by physicians for a medical assessment for the concerns of child maltreatment. The assessment given was that they believe the bruises were the result of physical abuse and not from a fall down the stairs, according to the complaint.

The charges were filed on Thursday, November 29, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office.