Man accused of water boarding 4-year-old boy

A Mid-Michigan man is accused of using a controversial torture tactic, once used to interrogate terrorists, on his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son and is now facing eight felony charges.

The 31-year-old Flint man, who is not being named pending his arraignment, is charged with five counts of second-degree child abuse, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, and one count of felonious assault.

Mt. Morris Police Chief Keith Becker said not only is the man accused of assaulting his girlfriend’s 12-year-old son with a knife, but the chief said the man is also allegedly tied up a 4-year-old boy, wrapped a pair of underwear around his head, leaned him over a stool and then repeatedly poured water on his face.

Becker said teachers in the young boy’s head-start program noticed that he was acting differently the day after the alleged torture occurred on Tuesday.

Faculty then called the 4-year-old’s mother and police. That same day, on Wednesday, the mother’s boyfriend was arrested.

Becker said the boys, considering the circumstances, are doing much better and are in a safe place.

Currently, the boy’s mother is not facing any charges, but police said their investigation into the alleged torture is ongoing.

The crimes all occurred on May 12, according to John Potbury, assistant prosecuting attorney for Genesee County.