Police in Texas have arrested a man with a history of violence against children after allegedly assaulting a toddler. Craig Lamont Jones, 41, reportedly attacked a 23-month-old child who didn’t do what the man wanted. Officers from the Killeen Police Department arrived at a home on West Anderson Avenue after receiving a report of domestic violence. Sadly, it appears Jones attacked the child because he refused to kiss him good night.
When officers spoke to a witness, according to Fox 44, the person gave a terrifying account of what happened. Earlier, Jones allegedly slapped the boy on his cheeks, back, and buttocks and dragged him to his bedroom after he refused to kiss him goodnight. A witness also accused Jones of slamming the toddler on his bed and pinning him down so he could not reach the person who eventually called police and made the report.
Officers arrested Jones on charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and injury to a child with intent, per Fox 44. Authorities booked him in Bell County Jail on an $82,500 bond.
This isn’t Jones’ first time hurting a child. According to the Killeen Daily Herald, Jones pleaded guilty to beating his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son in 2019. More than six years ago, on October 17, 2018, Jones struck the boy with a coat hanger on his head, neck, and arm. When his mother tried to intervene, Jones reportedly beat her, too.
Jones’ most recent accusations brought up a lively conversation about consent in the comment section of WKRG’s Facebook page. Many people believe children should not have to show affection to anyone if they don’t want to do so.
One person wrote, “No kid should be forced to kiss or hug anyone they don’t want to.”
Someone else agreed and commented, “No child should be forced to kiss anyone they don’t want to or feel uncomfortable with. Family, mother, father, etc. Tbh, who would wanna kiss you poor man got his feelings hurt cus a 2 year old don’t like you.”
Another person shared what they hope to see happen to Jones in jail: “Hopefully prison mates will give him what is due.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
