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ECSO: Cantonment Man Charged With Child Abuse After Excessively Whipping Child
September 28, 2019
UPDATE: CHARGES IN THIS CASE WERE LATER DROPPED.
A Cantonment man has been charged after excessively whipping a child so hard with a belt that it left bruising, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Matthew Scott Reber, 35, was charged with felony child abuse.
The child said he had been whipped because he was bad, according to an arrest report, and complained that he had pain in his back and buttocks.
Reber admitted he whipped the child because he needed discipline, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report continues, and he stated “it’s not my fault he bruises easily”.
According to the ECSO, the child had what appeared to be the impression of a belt that started on the right side of the back, extended over the backbone area and towards the left side of the back, along with what appeared to be slight bruising on his buttocks.
The child was transported to the Gulf Coast Kid’s House for an interview and medical evaluation.
The report states the corporal punishment “was excessive due to the injuries”.
Reber was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Comments
39 Responses to “ECSO: Cantonment Man Charged With Child Abuse After Excessively Whipping Child”
This was discipline, not abuse. A child needs to know the limits and all children are different. His father knows the best for his son & the state should respect his decision to spank him
spanking a child’s Back is unacceptable!
I am a Christian as well. HOWEVER. There is a huge. HUGE difference between discipline with love and beating. Nope. Absolutely Breaks my heart. So sad because this is one child we know about today. But there are still many many more out there going thru the same thing. If you suspect someone of abuse report it. For the child’s sake. These are Sick minded evil people that hurt; that abuse helpless children. I decided to comment because of all the people commenting about read the Bible. And spare the rod…. no one deserves to be treated or should ever be treated like this. That goes for animals and adults as well. Stop the hate, stop the cruelty. No excuses.
here is how to discipline your child (and this will hurt worse than a whoopin’). take away tv, cellphone, tablet, game console, internet, stereo, anything entertaining. i imagine you will have a straightened out young person in no time. make them read a book, hehe.
>>>These stories deliberately never state the age or sex of the “kid” in question. Also, what relation the abuser has to the child.
Information that might identify the child is not public record in Florida. It is redacted from the reports before being released.
Im fifty eight and every whooping i got i needed it because i was hard headed and had no fear. fear is very important in raising a child if you don’t put fear in them then they turn into criminals or killer’s with that being said thank you bubba and mama for those (whooping’s) i turned out find
To prove that this is wrong to damage that child like this, and those quoting bible scripture, let someone else treat you child or loved one that way…..you would sing a different song then wouldnt you.
You would be ready to go after anyone who did this to your loved one….the human is a screwed up animal ….
The father’s statement, “It’s not my fault if he bruises easily,” shows a total lack of self control, apathy and a complete misunderstanding of the concept of proper discipline. His immediate response is to blame the child for “bruising easily.” That’s like saying, yeah, I stabbed him but it ain’t my fault he bled to death.
Yes, children NEED corporal punishment. However, this guy doesn’t have a clue. Perhaps he will receive similar punishment from his fellow cellmates. I wonder how easily he bruises?
The sad part is, so many on this site think because they were treated that way, thats its ok. So many people on here thinks is oh and normal “because thats what happened to me”
That is why this child suffered…many of you think its ok.
Your not educated enough to understand the difference between a beating and a whipping. In short adult ignorance and “its my kid and you cant tell me what to do mentality ” is what happened here.
Todays society is in such a hurry that it forgot to be a loving human being
No one, I repeat no one, including a judge is going to agree with that mentality.
I dont care what a person says to condone this behavior…your mentally inept doing or making excuses to treat a child like that …ANY CHILD or adult as a matter of fact. Spare the rod, spoil the child…what a crock …low I.Q. people resort to rhetoric from the past because they do not have the mental skills to deal with children, much less adults
What a sick society, they can think rational or act rational…
Anyone who disagrees is part of that problem
These stories deliberately never state the age or sex of the “kid” in question. Also, what relation the abuser has to the child. Could he that a hostile divorce/break-up situation sets some of these “reported incidences” in motion. A strong rebellious teenager is a different challenge to keep in line than a 2 year old.
Call me crazy but beating a child with a belt is a loving Christian gesture. Beating an adult with a belt is a 3rd degree felony. Shouldn’t they be the same either way?
It’s a shame 10 years from now we will be surrounded by hooligans, because people can’t mind their own business and let parents do their jobs. At that time I will be leaving this doomed liberal crybaby country.
Sometimes you can get away with it…. sometimes you can’t
I dont know if this is the childs father or not but he may have just shown the child what real love is:
Hebrews 12:6-7 KJV
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Scourge : Strong’s Definition
From G3148; to flog (literally or figuratively): – scourge
I thank the Almighty God for a father who used his belt on me.
To the non-believing, you might want to read verse 8 from a King James bible.
Only in America can you murder your child at birth, but go to jail if you spank them.
It is a good thing he didn’t shoot a cat. He woulda been in real trouble!
When I was a kid, I could be a little tyrant. When I was punished, I deserved it and got a belt, switch or whatever they could get their hands on at the time. I know that it hurt and it taught me not to do that again! I am wondering how many adults out there squirmed and dropped down to try and get away from a spanking or switch or belt? I know I did and got it in other places than my butt. I see differences of opinion on here and everyone is entitled to theirs. I for one believed in spanking my kids and they turned out great. And guess what? They still know how to say yes ma’am and yes sir! Things happen that we all wish didn’t when disciplining our kids and WE All were not there to see what happened. For those that don’t believe in spanking your children, more power to you. Good luck and I hope it works.
The mother & father are separated before you guys want to pass judgement. Maybe before you comment assumptions you should know your facts.
I believe the Bible teaches discipline and strict discipline, but in no way does it support what this person did. I do believe in spanking but there is a right way. The Bible says “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4 As I said, I believe the Bible teaches strong discipline but it puts a lot of responsibility on the parents. If you are going to sure God’s Word to justify your actions, be sure you have followed it’s Instructions for you as a parent. “Fathers, prove not your children to anger, lest they be discourage.” Col. 3:21
Maybe there would be less crime today, if “big brother” would keep his nose out of family business. I had welts from belts and switches. But, not too many times, as I learned to obey. I did not grow up to be a ridiculous “snowflake” either. If a child is being injured and beat all the time for any reason and nothing………….THAT should be punished. That PARENT needs some discipline. I know that I had good parents that took care of my siblings and myself. We were taught morals and respect and empathy for others. We did not take drugs or bully others, or lie, cheat, steal and kill either. We also were taught to have respect for others, especially our elders. If we talked like so many today, I hate to think how long our “correction” would last ………After a good “whoopin’” Good for this father IF the child did something for which he needed a whoopin’. AND he did not truly injure the child. Some do bruise easily. I did and still do. IF this is just REAL child abuse, then that is another story.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes
Joe Tucker,
Proverbs 13:24
Proverbs 23:13-14
Seriously??
When I was a young ‘in my daddy made us go outside and pick our own switch to tear our rear end up! Hurt a heck of a lot worse than a belt!
That is what’s wrong with these brats today!
The Bible does not say “Spare the rod spoil the child”. I’ve looked. If you find it tell chapter and verse please.
This is awful! You should never hit a child, let alone beat them with a belt! All you are teaching them is that you solve problems with violence. Just ask any mother in a women’s shelter. There’s plenty of other, effective ways to discipline. And we wonder why we have a society full of violent children.
Discipline is one thing…abuse a different subject. If this child was left with bruises he was abused.
This caring, loving father loves his child enough to discipline him when he needs it. My father used a belt, too, while we wiggled and squirmed. Several absent, separated “baby daddies” don’t put forth the love or energy to discipline their children. Frequently these juveniles end up getting in serious trouble, even killing others. I pray this is not the path of this child. But if it is, the person that turned this father in should said alongside when the courts deem punishment and receive the same. The justice is so unbalanced. Wake up America!
I believe what the Bible says: Spare the rod spoil the child, just don’t beat them. I was raised with spankings with a switch not a belt. That’s what is wrong with these kids today NO DISCIPLINE. They have no respect for anyone.
This is so sickening about a big strong man whipping a small defenceless child. The pain and fear this child had to endure is horribly wrong. I hope they lock him up & that child is put in a safe place.
The bible says…….. SPARE THE ROD SPOIL THE CHILD. I will agree maybe he got a little carried away but the child was not injured, maybe dad just needs to learn to clam down first before he punishes the child. and maybe the law need to not get so involved
Just talk to the dad an see he will no doubt agree.
It would be a good thing if everyone would take a little time an read the bible, You would learn a lot.
“it’s not my fault he bruises easily” …should never be allowed around any child, period, and his child(ren) should be removed promptly. He will go on to maim or kill a person or animal. His face says it all, bully.
I hope the child was removed from the home. Terrible way for a child to live—-this man should have been held to a higher bond. $2500 is chump change
It takes a real man to beat a child to this point. I do have to ask where the mother was and if she was afraid of this fellow also.The child has been taught a lesson—that brute force is the right way to handle any problem. Sorry for the child.
I recieved a whipping like that as a kid and was never bad again im 78yrs old. Now we do timeouts before the next bad in about 30 min.
Punishment should be done related to the behavior, not done in anger. I hope many parents read this and think about how they punish their children.
Where is the mother while this monster is abusing this kid?
Doesn’t say if it’s his child. If not, he shouldn’t touch him. Discipline is suppose to be done in love. Ladies men that do this to your children don’t love them. If men don’t take time with children and love, lead and teach them they should never touch them. His remark clearly shows he should never discipline this child. Mom get rid of this loser. Put your child first!
a man that will do this is needing mental health help. a nice trip to Chatahoochie mandatory for all charged as this guy is will keep incidents like this to a minimum.
something bothering a guy like this, that has nothing to do with disciplining his child. i hope he gets the help he needs,
I believe in spanking. But I also believe that use of a weapon to do a spanking is unnecessary. Especially for a man.
I was raised with corporal punishment, but it was tempered with the love a parent has for a child. In a moment rage can takeover emotions of love and care…when regret walks through the door the harm has already been done…remember that is your flesh and blood.