Dad accused of beating children with wire

A South Salt Lake man is accused of beating an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old with a wire.

In charges filed Monday, police wrote that they found the man's 8-year-old son walking barefoot and alone Aug. 13 near 300 East and 2700 South. The boy said he "did not want to go home because his father might hit him," police wrote. He said he did not feel safe at home because his father was angry and "whipped" him with a wire three times, police wrote. Officers found welts on the boy's back.

A 10-year-old boy who also lives at the home said he gets "beat" frequently with a wire, police wrote. He also had several marks on his back, police wrote. They did not indicate whether the 10-year-old was related to the defendant.

The man, 29, was charged with two second-degree felony counts of child abuse, inflicting serious physical injury.

ealberty@sltrib.com

Twitter: @erinalberty