(La Porte County, IN) - A jury might have to decide whether a father went too far in disciplining his son.

 

Caleb Bingham, 34, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with child neglect and battery, both Level 5 felonies.

 

According to court documents, the investigation shows he used a homemade wooden paddle on his 11 year old son for not completing some of his assignments from school a few weeks ago.

 

Police said the boy was left with severe bruising on his buttocks and back of his thigh.

 

Law enforcement became involved when the boy’s mother went to child welfare authorities with pictures of what was described as red, purple and blue discoloration of his skin where he was paddled, according to court documents.

 

The investigation alleged this wasn’t the first time the La Porte area man had used on the paddle he carved from a tree on the boy. Bingham could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence on each count.

 

Recently, a Michigan City area man was charged for using a belt on his nine year old granddaughter as a form of discipline.