ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A man was arrested in St. Petersburg on Tuesday night after police say he used a lighter to burn smiley faces on three kids in his care.
- Man accused of burning smiley faces on kids
- Joshua Mize charged with aggravated child abuse
- Deputies: Crimes occurred while kids were in his care
Joshua Mize, 21, faces three counts of aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm.
The children, ages 5, 8, and 10, told police that Mize would hold them down and burn them with a lighter to create "smileys," according to the affidavit.
The kids all had burns consistent with what they told authorities. The 10-year-old had a burn mark on his left leg slightly above his knee and the 8-year-old received a burn to his back right shoulder. The 5-year-old had three burn marks on his right knee, consisting of a smiley face and two "U" shapes.
Police said that Mize was watching over the children when the crimes occurred.
Mize is being held at the Pinellas County Jail under a $450,000 bond.