Worthington man faces battery charge after whipping six-year-old 'special needs' child

A Worthington man now faces preliminary charges of battery after allegedly whipping a child he was baby-sitting.

Timothy L. Lovell, 28, was arrested on a warrant of battery resulting in bodily injury to a minor by Worthington Town Marshal Dennis Conaway on Wednesday.

The probable cause affidavit -- which was filed in Greene County Circuit Court on Tuesday -- states that Worthington Deputy Marshal Eric S. Floyd was dispatched to the victim's home Oct. 19.

At that point, the child's mother reported that her 6-year-old son -- who has cerebral palsy and some special needs -- was abused while being watched by Lovell.

According to the court document, the mother noticed red marks on her son's face and "a large welted/bruises area on his buttocks" shortly after picking her son up from the Lovell residence Oct. 19.

Lovell had watched the boy from 10 a.m. to noon that day.

According to the court document, Officer Floyd also observed the marks on the boy.

On Oct. 21, Officer Floyd spoke to Lovell about the incident.

At that time, Lovell admitted to whipping the boy on the buttocks twice but wasn't aware he struck hard enough to leave any marks.

Lovell had no explanation for the red marks on the boy's face.

Battery resulting in bodily injury to a minor is a class D felony.

After his arrest, Lovell was released from the Greene County Jail on a $4,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing Nov. 4.