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Child Abuse

1176: Martin Burns

Cajsa LilliehookLeave a comment
Martin Burns

Martin Burns is a pastor of Winamac Nazarene Church in Indiana. He has been charged with two criminal counts of battery after a surveillance video appeared on social media allegedly showing him kneeling on the chest of a 4-year-old boy at a church day care center. The child was hanging on his leg, making it difficult for him to walk. So, he kneeled on the four-year-old child’s chest until he began coughing and let go of him.

The initial hearing will be held November 16, 2023.

a pastor charged with battering child at church - Times, The (Munster, IN) - October 5, 2023 - page 1 October 5, 2023 | Times, The (Munster, IN) | Bob Kasarda WINAMAC — A pastor at the Winamac Nazarene Church, which is affiliated with the Valparaiso Nazarene Church, has been charged with two criminal counts of battery after a surveillance video appeared on social media allegedly showing him kneeling on the chest of a 4-year-old boy at a church day care center. The one-minute video, which is attached to this story, shows Pastor Martin Burns, 47, carrying a child on his shoulders while another child clings to his right leg and refuses to let go, according to a Winamac police report. "The male stated to the child, 'I can't move with you on my foot,' " police said. The man, identified by police as Burns, takes several steps before kneeling down on the child's chest. "Instantly after placing his knee on the child's chest, you can hear the child start to cry, at one point it sounds like the child is coughing," police said. "The child could be seen stomping a foot on the ground as well." Burns continues to tell the child to let go and remains kneeling on the child's chest for seven seconds, according to police. "When he finally stood up and got off the child's chest, the child started crying again, holding his chest," police said. "The adult stating, 'You listen when you're given instructions.' " Burns is then seen walking away as he and two other supervisors leave the child alone on the ground crying and holding his chest, police said. Defense attorney Jesse Harper, who is representing Burns, said when contacted Thursday morning, "We have a different opinion from the state on what this video shows and we are disappointed that Martin has been charged in this matter.
Area pastor charged with battering child at church – Times, The (Munster, IN) – October 5, 2023 – page 1
"Martin continues to maintain his innocence, was cooperative with the police, and we are committed to mounting a vigorous defense on his behalf," Harper said. Burns was charged with a felony battery to a person less than 14 years of age and misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury. The incident in question occurred around 4 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Kingdom Kids Preschool Daycare, which was listed Thursday morning online as being permanently closed. The day care is located within the Winamac Nazarene Church, officials said. The video of the incident that hit social media was recorded by cellphone from the original by the child's mother, who had worked at the day care center, police said. She reportedly told police Burns was filling in that week at the day care for his wife due to a staffing shortage and while parents would not typically be allowed to view the surveillance footage, a manager allowed her access as an employee. The mother said her son was still crying when he came home following the incident and that his chest was red, but there were no obvious injuries, police said. The boy claimed Burns placed his knee not on his chest, but on his throat. The mother said Burns later approached her asking what she had been told by the boy and told her he responded as he did out of fear of dropping the child on his shoulders, according to a charging document. Burns, who thought the incident occurred Sept. 15, reportedly told police he asked the boy three times to let go of his leg. When the boy refused, Burns said he put just enough pressure on the child him to hold him down, according to police.
He then walked over to the other two supervisors in the room and explained what happened, police said. He claims to have apologized to the boy's mother, according to police. A manager reportedly told police she did not report the incident to Burns' wife, who served as day care director, but went to an official at the Valparaiso location. Another employee at the day care center began crying during a police interview, saying she wasn't aware the incident occurred until seeing the video, according to police. The employee called it "crazy," police said. Copyright, 2023, Times, The, All Rights Reserved.
Search Results Party Search First: Martin Last: Burns 1 to 20 of 21 by File Date, Descending State of Indiana v. Martin A. Burns 66D01-2310-F6-000156 CourtPulaski Superior Court Case TypeF6 - Felony 6 Filed10/04/2023 Status10/04/2023, Pending Charges35-42-2-1(c)(1)/F6: Battery on a Person Less than 14 Years Old Use this when victim is under 14 yea, 35-42-2-1(c)(1)/MA: Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury PartiesState of Indiana, Burns AttorneysEnnis, Gaumer, Smithey, Harper
State of Indiana v. Martin A. Burns Case Number 66D01-2310-F6-000156 Court Pulaski Superior Court Type F6 - Felony 6 Filed 10/04/2023 Status 10/04/2023 , Pending (active) Reference Case cross references Prosecutor Case Management Number66D01-2309-F6-DM2658151 Police Agency Number23WPD157 Parties to the Case Show all party details Defendant Burns, Martin A. State Plaintiff State of Indiana Charges Show all charge details 35-42-2-1(c)(1)/F6: Battery on a Person Less than 14 Years Old Use this when victim is under 14 year 35-42-2-1(c)(1)/MA: Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury

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