OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City woman was jailed on felony assault charges Monday after she allegedly burned a little girl with a cigarette on two occasions as a form of punishment.

Oil City Police Department filed the following charges Monday against 20-year-old Paulina Sines:

• Aggravated Assault — Victim Less Than 6 and Defendant 18 or older, Felony 2 (2 counts)
• Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
• Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1 (2 counts)

According to a criminal complaint filed by Oil City Police Patrolman Cory Ruditis, the investigation was initiated in July after police received a report from Venango County Child and Youth Services (CYS) indicating a female child had been burned multiple times with a cigarette.

The child was examined, and burns were found on both of her wrists.

During an October 3 interview, Sines told investigators that her daughter was accidentally burned with a cigarette while playing outside.

When asked about the burn on the other wrist, Sines told police she was unsure of how it occurred and said she noticed the burn after her daughter returned home from visiting a neighbor.

A second interview was conducted by Patrolman Ruditis and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Eric Mallory on October 31.

During the interview, Sines admitted to intentionally burning her daughter with a cigarette on two separate occasions.

The criminal complaint states that one of the incidents occurred inside the living room area of Sines’ Fern Drive residence after the victim “would not listen.”

The second incident occurred outside of the residence after the victim “would not listen” a second time, the criminal complaint states.

According to the criminal complaint, Sines told investigators that burning the child was a form of punishment used after “other punishments did not work.”

Sines also admitted to getting on top of the child and “force feeding” her when she would not eat.

Police did not release the exact age of the child; however, court documents indicate the child was less than six years old at the time of the incident.

Sines was arraigned on Monday at 11:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish.

She was placed in the Venango County Jail after failing to post $35,000.00 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 15 at 8:30 a.m. with Judge Fish presiding.