"A Portland dad faces charges of
assault and criminal mistreatment, after police say Craig Hague admitted
to hitting his daughter with a belt.
"Police say his daughter, 9, told her grandfather that, on September 19th,
her dad slapped her twice on the face and then took her into a bedroom
where he struck her with a belt four to five times, causing bruising so
painful she had trouble sitting at her desk in school, according to
police.
"Child abuse detectives say the girl told her
grandfather that her father was mad at her for taking some jewelry to
school that belonged to the father's girlfriend.
"Police say Hague later admitted that he
struck his daughter and caused injuries. Detectives say she was
examined on Sept. 26 by medical professionals who specialize in child
abuse, who noted she still had bruising.
"Fox 12 looked into Craig Hague's criminal
history and discovered a past conviction of assault from 2002. The
conditions of his probation following the conviction stated he required
parenting classes, anger management, and barred him from physical
discipline of any child.
"In a phone interview, Hague told FOX 12 that
the incident has been devastating and he feels horrible. He said he
never meant to hurt his daughter and now worries about losing custody of
his children. Friends of Hague described him as a great father."
Copyright 2011 KPTV. All rights reserved.
Wow. My Daddy would have been in jail 1000 times over. Before he belted us, he'd fold that belt in half and pop it; I'll never forget that. It was a belt used only for spanking and it hung in the utility room. We'd have to go get it for him. I remember many a school day when I would have to balance this way and that in my desk because my bottom was bruised.
