Father disciplines son in a bad manner

[cycloneye]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0126051stun1.html

JANUARY 27--Meet Douglas Dycus. The 40-year-old Florida man was charged yesterday with felony child abuse and domestic battery for allegedly using a stun gun to discipline his 14-year-old son. Dycus, an engineer with a Palm Beach firm, admitted to cops that he used the electrical device on the boy when the child was wrestling with a brother and holding up the family's departure from their home last month. Instead of pulling the boys apart, Dycus--who said the children were "not listening"--went to his dresser drawer and pulled out the stun gun, which he used to zap his son on the arm. The child let out a scream and then "got into the vehicle," according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office report. The victim told a child welfare investigator that Dycus shocked him twice, pointing to marks the device left on his arm and abdomen. The stun gun was recovered from Dycus's Palm City home after sheriff's investigators filed the below search warrant affidavit.

Oh boy what a father.At link above is the search warrant affidavit of investigators.

[alicia-w]

yep, definitely child abuse. anything that leaves marks is considered abuse in this state.

[sunny]

OMG - I wonder how he would feel if a stun gun were used on him.

[kevin]

Cattle prod for this great dad!!

[TexasStooge]

[cycloneye]

yep, definitely child abuse. anything that leaves marks is considered abuse in this state.

Agree 100%.

[southerngale]

yep, definitely child abuse. anything that leaves marks is considered abuse in this state.

Even a red mark on a butt?

[Derek Ortt]

were there any long term effects left on the boy? If not, IMO, this falls under the harsh punishment category, which is not child abuse

[GalvestonDuck]

were there any long term effects left on the boy? If not, IMO, this falls under the harsh punishment category, which is not child abuse

Define long-term effects.

I was strangled. So, I was just harshly punished and not abused?

[Lindaloo]

were there any long term effects left on the boy? If not, IMO, this falls under the harsh punishment category, which is not child abuse

Come on Derek, this FATHER used a stun gun on his son. Long term affect is emotional I am sure. That is abuse.

[alicia-w]

you're kidding, Derek, right? using a stun gun on a child isnt abuse?

wow. i'm stunned (no pun intended)

[Derek Ortt]

if there is no long term effects (such as any damage to his body, broken bones, injured muscles), how is this any different from school principles using a paddle, which does leave large marks, or slapping the hands with a ruler, which easily can break the kunckles?


Itshould not be the method of corporal punishment, rather the results that define child abuse

[streetsoldier]

Derek,

You are off-base on this one...using a WEAPON on a child is "not abusive"?

I'd have the old man up on charges of criminal assault I, child abuse, illegal use of a deadly weapon, armed criminal action, and breathing the same air as I do....for starters.

[Ixolib]

Kinda reminds me of the discussion on the guy who bought a rabbit at a pet store then killed it, skinned it, and ate it. He got charged with animal abuse. But if he would have shot a rabbit in the woods, no problem (???).

But, now that I think about it, there were times about 11 years ago when I thought my then-14 year old son would have driven me to the stun-gun as well. Thankfully, I didn't go there and all is good now that he's 25!!

Okay, back on track - excuse the momentary derail!!

[Lindaloo]

He BOUGHT a rabbit from the pet store which means it is tame. I am not for killing wild ones either but there is no comparison to the sick serial killer type person who buys a tame rabbit from a pet store to kill it. That disgusts me and the comparison.

If you had stun gunned your son in Mississippi you would be underneath the jail!

[Cookiely]

I don't understand the rabbitt issue. Its food. What's wrong with killing it and eating it. Its no different than going to the farm and picking out a turkey to eat thanksgiving.

[vbhoutex]

But, now that I think about it, there were times about 11 years ago when I thought my then-14 year old son would have driven me to the stun-gun as well. Thankfully, I didn't go there and all is good now that he's 25!!

I understand that one all to well. Just change the numbers to 8 and 22! They do grow up and out of it if you have done your job well.

And the use of a stun gun on a 14 year old is at a minimum child abuse!