A 36-year-old Centralia man has been charged with aggravated battery to a child under 13 and domestic battery after his six-year-old son was discovered with marks on his body by school officials.
Lawrence Simms Junior of East 13th was taken to the Marion County Jail where he remains pending a first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Centralia Police say they were called to the school office where the child attended after the boy was discovered with severe marks across both arms and his back. The boy claimed his father struck him with a belt after he dropped some food on the floor.
The boy was turned over to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A case worker took him to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment before taking him into protective custody.
