A Lansford man has been charged with assaulting and endangering the lives of his children ages 3 and 6.

Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher of the Lansford Police Department detailed the case against Nathaniel Jackson:

On Jan. 26, 2021, Nunemacher received a ChildLine notification after a mother stated that she picked her two sons up after two months of them being with their father, Jackson, 38.

The mother said she noticed bruising on his back, stomach and right arm on her 3-year-old when she was giving him a bath.

The mother said she asked her older son, 6, what happened, and he told his mother that his stepmother choked and hit the 3-year-old.

A visit was set up with Children and Youth and the mother sent several pictures of the bruises.

The boy referred to his “meanie dad and his meanie wife,” and told the caseworker he would get hit if he lies or if he is bad.

He said both his dad and step mom would hit him and his brother with a belt, and that his father hit him in the face and legs with a belt.

He describes both belts as being black with a piece of metal on them, and stated that he cries when he gets hit and it leaves scratches if it hits his skin.

He said he heard his brother choking and trying to talk, as he was in his bedroom and his brother was in his dad’s room, and imitated the sounds his brother was making.

The caseworker filed a report saying that the brother disclosed that the step mom choked him and demonstrated by putting his hands around his own neck. She said the brother has linear scars all over his back that are indicative of being struck by an instrument.

Nunemacher then received a medical examination report from a doctor for the 3-year-old. In this report, the brother reports that his daddy whips him with a belt that is black, and that he gets whipped on his leg.

The doctor said the 3-year-old has severe malnutrition, protruding shoulder bones and scars on his abdomen and right arm.

Nunemacher also received a medical examination report from another doctor for the 3-year-old. In this report, the brother states only his dad hurts him, as he hits him with a black and metal belt, and reports getting hit in his legs.

The 6-year-old was asked if anyone hurts his 3-year-old brother, and he said his stepmother hits him with a belt in the legs and that he is scared his brother might get hit.

He is positive for dental problems and states his teeth hurt when he eats candy that breaks his teeth. The doctor said he is also small and very thin, with prominent ribs and shoulder bones. Ha scars along his spine.

His right posterior shoulder has two parallel linear scars, and reports being hit by his father and his uncle. The doctor states that marks are consistent with being struck by an object.

Jackson faces charges on two counts each of endangering welfare of children, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing May 18 before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.

Charges are pending against the stepmother.