A Jasonville man is facing a felony battery charge for administering a spanking that allegedly left a child bruised.

George Heath Wilkes, 37, Jasonville, was taken into custody by Jasonville Police Officer Andrew Duguay on Monday, November 4, following an investigation led by Sgt. Brian Pilant, also of the Jasonville Police Department.

Earlier in October, a caseworker from the Greene County Department of Child Services (DCS), who was checking into an alleged incident of child abuse, contacted Sgt. Pilant to interview Wilkes. The DCS caseworker said she had interviewed a child who talked about Wilkes whipping them and leaving a bruise.

Sgt. Pilant talked to Wilkes at the Jasonville Police Department and reported Wilkes said the child didn’t get school work done then didn’t give him a paper brought home from school. Later when the child did give it to him, saying they had forgotten it, he said the child had lied to him so he spanked the child, but didn’t give more than 10 whacks. According to the caseworker, this left a bruise on the child’s hip.

Sgt. Pilant reported Wilkes told him he used a belt folded in half to spank the child’s “butt” and if he hit the child’s leg, he didn’t mean to. According to Sgt. Pilant, Wilkes said he believes in Biblical punishment which means spanking children if they need it. He said he was sorry several times.

Information from the investigation was submitted to the prosecutor’s office and a criminal case was filed against Wilkes. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday, November 4, and Wilkes was arrested the same day.

Wilkes was booked into the Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $400 and was released the same day.

Wilkes is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court next Monday to be formally charged with battery on a person less than 14 years old, a Level 6 felony.