Ridge Malone Watkins, 35, of Muscle Shoals, has been charged with aggravated child abuse in connection with the alleged harming of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.
According to court documents, the child’s mother sent videos of the abuse to a friend. The friend went to the authorities and showed them a January 28 video of Watkins appearing to punch the child while he was in his playpen.
Investigators said it appeared Watkins was tending to other children when he suddenly turned to the boy, yelled at him and punched him in the back three times with a closed fist.
Investigators also viewed several other videos and photos of injuries, which led to the charges.
Watkins was indicted on May 9 and was placed in the Colbert County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
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