Father says he didn't beat son

JASPER COUNTY - by Mike Lout & Steve Stewart/KJAS - John Cornelius, the 24-year-old man accused of severely beating and causing bodily injury to his 5-year-old son earlier this month, said Wednesday that he was only guilty of spanking the child. Cornelius’ statements came during a hearing that was held in the Jasper County Courthouse to address where four other children living in the home with Cornelius would stay until a full investigation of the incident is complete.

During a round of questioning by Child Protective Services attorney, Ronnie Cohee, Cornelius, who is being held at the Jasper County Jail, said that a few days before the allegations came forth that the young boy was injured during a fall. Cornelius said he took the child to Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and later released.

Child Protective Services claims that Cornelius forced the young boy to perform painful exercises and even taped a board to the child’s leg, which caused further inflammation, which later led to an infection throughout out his body.

In other testimony during Wednesday’s hearing, C.P.S. worker Dawn Kaiser said that, according to doctors, there was a good chance that the child would never be able to walk again, due to the severity of his injuries.

However, due to the fact that the Cornelius was not represented by an attorney, Judge David Dunn asked that the questioning cease.

After hearing arguments from the State and attorneys representing the other children living in the home, Judge Dunn ruled that the children would continue to stay with relatives until more information is available. Dunn said the next hearing on the issue would take place on September 23, 2009.

Cornelius, who was arrested at the family's home just south of Jasper on Sunday, August 16, after the child’s biological grandmother took him to a Lufkin hospital, was wearing a bullet proof vest and chains when he was brought to the courthouse shortly after 1:00 in the afternoon. He was accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessi Waddell, 27, and her mother, 54-year-old Wanda Macks, who were also wearing protective vests and chains.

All three are charged with injury to the child causing bodily injury. However, Waddell and Macks are also charged with failure to report the incident to authorities.

Bond on Cornelius has been set at $500,000.00. Bond on Waddell and Macks has been set at $140,00.00 each.

Since the time the incident occurred, the injured child has been undergoing treatment at Texas Children’s’ Hospital in Houston, where he is now reported to be in stable condition and improving.