GLENDALE, AZ — A Glendale man arraigned Thursday has been charged with child abuse after 10 reports to the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
Court records show that Jorge Elias, 28, was arraigned on Feb. 20, 2020, in Maricopa County Superior Court regarding charges filed against him last December for five counts of child abuse.
Glendale police report that on Dec. 18, they were contacted by an elementary school regarding the possible abuse of an 8-year-old boy. School workers said the boy was having trouble walking while carrying trays. While at the nurse's office, the boy started to have difficulty breathing and allegedly said his father had punched him.
Police say they saw bruises to the boy's back and chest and blood in his underwear. He was transported to a local hospital where he required five hours of surgery to repair a broken rib, internal bleeding, fluid building up around his lungs, and a puncture wound to his groin area.
Elias reportedly told investigators that he hit the boy that morning because he wouldn't pick up his room. He also allegedly admitted to kicking his son in the genitals in November for looking at his sister in a "disgusting way." DCS is currently investigating the incident in November.
Elias is also accused of making the boy stand for hours without using the bathroom.
Elias allegedly admitted to hitting his son more often in the last two years. He reportedly told police that "he hits on his son because he reminds him of the boy's mother."
In a recently released statement from DCS, the agency says they have received 10 prior reports involving Elias or the victim dating back to 2011.
The statement says that in 2017 the boy was removed from the home but was returned after Elias successfully completed services provided by the agency.
Elias is currently being held without bond.
