POSTED: Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 1:53pm
UPDATED: Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 5:46pm
Police arrested a Las Cruces couple yesterday after their 7-year-old son showed up to school with bruises on his head and neck and told staff he was afraid to go home.
They boy's father, 23-year-old Jeffrey C. Putnam, is charged with intentional child abuse.
The child's mother, 28-year-old Melissa Lopez-Putnam, is facing one charge of negligent child abuse.
Tuesday night Putnam hit the boy with his fist and put his foot on his head, according to Las Cruces Police.
Police say Lopez-Putnam knew about the abuse, but didn't tell authorities.
The couple was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center, each on a $10,000 dollar bond.
The boy and his siblings are now in the care of Children, Youth and Famlies Department.