A Lubbock man has been arrested and charged in relation to an incident that left a toddler with second and third-degree burns.

Gabriel Monte of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports that man is 27-year-old Robert Wayne Bunton, currently believed to be homeless.

In December 2018, Covenant Children’s Hospital treated a 2-year-old boy for second and third-degree burns after Bunton brought him and the boy’s mother to the hospital. The boy apparently suffered burns to his genitals, buttocks and stomach after Bunton, believed to be dating the boy’s mother at the time, placed the child in scalding hot water.

According to Bunton, he was trying to give the boy a bath, but didn’t check the temperature of the water before placing him in. The boy’s mother claims Bunton called her to explain what happened and apologized multiple times on their way to the hospital. However, during an investigation by Lubbock police, a child abuse specialist allegedly suggested the boy’s burns were "the result of physical abuse."

Lubbock Police Department investigators noted that Bunton did not call 9-1-1 despite the severity of the boy’s injuries. They also noted that he disappeared from the hospital and did not return after being suspected of child abuse.

Lubbock police ended up issuing a warrant for Bunton’s arrest in January 2019. He was indicted by a Lubbock County grand jury in May.

Bunton was finally located in Richardson, Texas, and arrested Wednesday, October 26th by officers of the Richardson Police Department. He was transferred and booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on Wednesday, October 30th, and faces a single charge of aggravated assault. His bond has been set at $100,000.

If convicted, Bunton could receive up to 20 years in prison.

 

The injured boy was transferred to the burn unit of University Medical Center after the incident, but reportedly recovered and does not require further medical treatment.

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