Washington state man accused of beating, waterboarding child

TACOMA, Wash. – Washington state authorities have accused a man of beating and waterboarding his 7-year-old daughter.

The News Tribune reports the 27-year-old man was charged with second- and third-degree child assault in Pierce County Superior Court on Monday.

Charging documents say the man’s girlfriend told Lakewood police Sunday that he hit the child about 13 times with a belt to discipline her for lying and talking back.

Police say he then dragged the screaming child to the bathroom and held a wet cloth to her mouth.

According to the documents, he used a water bottle to pour water onto her face, causing the child to gag, cry and gasp for air.

The woman fled with the child to a convenience store and called police.

The newspaper did not name the man.

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Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com