Two Polk County men have been arrested on child abuse and other charges.
- Four adults charged after stun gun used to discipline children
- Deputies said the stun gun left bruises and burn marks on the victims
- The children are between the ages of 7 and 13
Sheriff's detectives said Eduardo Vazquez and William Torres-Morales used a stun gun on seven children at their home on Skye Place.
Detectives said the two men admitted to using the device on the children as a form of discipline and even as a punishment when some of the children couldn't complete enough pushups.
Investigators said the stun gun left burns and bruises on the children.
"That's ridiculous. That's ridiculous," neighbor Frank Kirchon said when reporters told him about the allegations. "There is no excuse to do that to any child."
Kirshon said he would often see the children playing in the street and that they were not a problem in the mobile home community.
Investigators have also arrested two women who lived in the home. They said Elizabeth Tarvin and Veronica Sanchez knew that the men were using a stun gun on the children but didn’t do anything to stop it and didn't report it.
"The mothers, that breaks my heart," said neighbor Mary Smith. "Breaks my heart to hear that."
"They ought to be put away and never let out," Kirchon said.
Vazquez, 22, and Torres-Morales, 22, were each charged with nine counts of contributing to delinquency of a minor and seven counts of aggravated child abuse, among other charges.
Tarvin, 33, and Sanchez, 32, were charged with nine counts each of contributing to delinquency of minor and nine counts each of negligent child abuse, among other charges.
The suspects are being held on bonds ranging from $62,000 to $544,000.