Yoanny Herrera Nieblas (Miami-Dade Corrections via WPLG).
A Florida father is accused of beating his 5-year-old daughter with a plastic bathroom squeegee over reported behavior problems at school, including allegedly giving her teacher the middle finger.
Yoanny Herrera Nieblas, 44, has been charged with child abuse without bodily harm.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the girl was showering on Sept. 8 when Herrera Nieblas entered the bathroom and confronted her about what he described as her “poor behavior in school.”
Police said Herrera Nieblas struck the child several times on her backside with the squeegee, leaving bruises that remained visible for at least three days.
After being read his Miranda rights, Herrera Nieblas allegedly told investigators that the girl had experienced “ongoing behavioral” issues at school.
“Most recently, he was notified by the school that the victim stuck her middle finger up to the teacher,” police wrote.
The affidavit said the girl acknowledged the incident when her father questioned her. Herrera Nieblas allegedly said he escalated the punishment to spanking her with the squeegee because verbal discipline was not getting through to her.
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Florida law outlines when corporal punishment by a parent or guardian crosses the line into child abuse.
“Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child,” the statute states.
In this case, the father inflicted harm when he allegedly caused bruising on the child.
Herrera Nieblas was arrested and taken to the Miami-Dade County Jail, where he has since posted a $2,500 bond.
“The defendant knowingly and willfully abused the child by intentionally inflicting physical injury upon the child without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement,” the affidavit stated.
He pleaded not guilty. His next court date was not immediately listed.
The post Dad beat 5-year-old daughter with bathroom squeegee because she flipped off a teacher: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.