Stepfather held in connection with toddler’s burns

A 2-year-old boy suffered for a week with second- and third-degree burns, which led to bleeding and blisters on his legs, before he received medical treatment, according to a Las Vegas police report released Friday.

The boy's stepfather, Demar Barnes, 20, was watching over the child, and he was arrested Thursday on charges of child abuse and child neglect.

According to the report, Barnes said the boy was burned after he started a bath for the boy and walked away.

Barnes told police that he noticed later that the water had burned the boy, who had burns on the lower half of his body.

The stepfather treated the burns with peroxide and paper towels, which became stuck to the boy's legs, according to the report.

When the boy's mother returned from a trip Wednesday, she noticed the burns and called 911.

He was taken to University Medical Center's burn unit, where doctors had to surgically remove paper from his burns and skin.