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Watson charged with child abuse
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Felony charges have been filed against a father who allegedly shaved his children’s bodies and subjected them to extreme mental abuse.The suspect, Fred Watson, 40, is charged with two counts of child abuse for the abusing his 7-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son.According to McMinnville police officer Bobby Anderson, the two children were allegedly subjected to “unusual and extreme mental anguish and distress” by Watson who, according to family members, suffers from mental issues.Anderson said in his warrants against Watson the Department of Children’s Services had taken control over the two children and they had found Watson’s actions constitute criminal abuse.“He had subjected the two children to unusual and extreme anguish and distress by completely and thoroughly shaving their bodies, placing his hands on their face in an effort to restrict and diminish their capacity to breathe and by physically abusing them by striking them in the face with his hands,” Anderson revealed.The children, once rescued by DCS, told workers they were in fear of their father.The fact the children are 8 years and less makes the crime a Class D felony punishable by two to four years in prison.