A Florida man was arrested after he allegedly beat his 5-year-old daughter with a plastic bathroom squeegee as punishment after she gave her teacher the middle finger amid ongoing behavioral issues.
Yoanny Herrera Nieblas has been charged with child abuse with no bodily harm following the incident that took place on September 8.
At the time, the girl was taking a shower when Herrera Nieblas, 44, entered the bathroom and confronted her about her “poor behavior in school,” according to a probable cause arrest affidavit viewed by Law & Crime.
Police said that Herrera Nieblas then allegedly hit his daughter multiple times with the squeegee, which caused her to suffer bruising that was visible for at least three days.
He was later arrested and allegedly told officers that he attacked the girl due to her “ongoing behavioral” issues at school.
“Most recently, he was notified by the school that the victim stuck her middle finger up to the teacher,” police wrote in the affidavit.
When Herrera Nieblas confronted his daughter about the report, she allegedly admitted to giving her teacher the middle finger. Herrera Nieblas then allegedly responded by “spanking her” with the squeegee. He said he decided to discipline her in a physical way because his verbal discipline in the past never got through to her.
While he viewed the attack as discipline, Florida’s child abuse statute breaks down when corporal punishment becomes child abuse, and his actions fall under the category.
“Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child,” the statute stated.
Police believe that Herrera Nieblas inflicted harm because he allegedly caused the child to bruise.
Herrera Nieblas was arrested and taken into custody at the Miami-Dade County Jail. He has since been released after he posted a $2,500 bond.
“The defendant knowingly and willfully abused the child by intentionally inflicting physical injury upon the child without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement,” the affidavit stated, per the outlet.
Herrera Nieblas has since pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is not currently clear if he has retained legal counsel, and his next appearance in court has not yet been publicly shared.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
