FARGO - A Fargo man is charged with felony child abuse after prosecutors accuse him of using a plastic comb to beat the genitals of a 2-year-old boy, and forced the child to stand in an icy shower.
Court documents say Pittman Bonard Cheapoo, 25, admitted to officers responding to Essentia Health in south Fargo on New Year's Eve that he hit the child with the comb and forced him into the cold water to discipline the toddler.
Officers were called to Essentia and found the boy had severe swelling and bruising of his genital organs, documents say. He had also been hit and scratched about the face, thighs and chest, documents say, with fingernail marks and golf-ball sized purple bruises on his cheeks near the chin.
Officers retrieved the plastic comb at Cheapoo's apartment after receiving his permission to go inside, documents say. Pittman told police he hit the boy with the comb about five times.
Cheapoo is charged with one count of Class B felony child abuse.
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Defense attorney Monty Mertz declined to comment on the case through a spokesperson.
Pittman's next court appearance is set for Feb. 10.
