Marine charged in ‘military training’ child abuse

A Marine reservist has been charged with child abuse, and allegedly imposed military training on a 14-month-old child.

Lance Cpl. Devin Heintzelman and his fiancee each face three criminal charges in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after police say his fiancee’s son was found with bruises on his head, arms, back, hips, buttocks and thighs, WJAC reported.

Police said Heintzelman was attempting to use military training on the infant and tried to get him to perform push-ups and sit-ups, according to the report.

“He acted more or less like a drill instructor of sorts, trying to get the child to do push-ups and calisthenics, having him lead off with his left foot all the time rather than his right foot,” Altoona police Lt. Jeffrey Pratt told WTAJ.

Heintzelman and his fiancee admitted to spanking the baby when he cried or fussed, WJAC reported, and one witness alleged that Heintzelman hit the child with a paddle for drooling on himself when the child was 8-months-old.

Heintzelman and his fiancee are charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 6 years old, simple assault against a victim less than 12 years old and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the report.

Heintzelman enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2014, and works as a motor vehicle operator with 2nd Platoon Truck Company, 25th Marines, according to spokeswoman 1st Lt. Stephanie Leguizamon.

It is reported that Heintzelman currently is away at reserve training and will turn himself in to police when he returns in two weeks.

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