KENOSHA COUNTY, WI — Louis Morgan, Jr., 33, has been charged with one count of physical abuse after he allegedly beat his girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter with a belt.
Reportedly, the girl enraged Morgan after she took a candy cane from the family home to a local post office, in order to mail it off along with her wish list to Santa Claus.
The child’s school alerted authorities after the girl said she was hurting and had a bruise.
According to the complaint, Morgan told authorities during his questioning that the child was not allowed to take candy canes off the tree. Instead, the child said she took the cane out of the box, so she could mail it to Santa. The child said she thought it was okay, since the cane wasn’t taken from the tree.
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Morgan told investigators he became upset when he found out there was a candy cane in the letter addressed to Santa. He said he was upset the victim “disobeyed” his commands. The little girl’s mother told authorities that her daughter had been taking things from others, and so they tried a number of measures to teach her a lesson.
The report alleges Morgan “whipped” the child with a belt about 13 times. She was struck on her legs, arms, and other parts of her body. Authorities believe she was hit with the full length of the belt. Morgan is also accused of telling the nine-year-old that Santa does not exist.
Morgan allegedly told the child that he and her mother were “busting their butts” to provide gifts for her and their family for the holiday — “not some fantasy guy named Santa.”
Main photo: Candy cane via Pixabay