Police arrest man accused of beating child for spilling foot powder

James Mooney, 39, charged with child abuse

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of James Mooney

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police on Tuesday arrested a 39-year-old man accused of beating a child for spilling his foot powder, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. 

James Mooney is charged with child abuse.

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Police were called to Annie R. Morgan Elementary School by an investigator with the Department of Children and Families. 

According to an arrest report, a teacher reported to DCF that a child had injuries to both sides of her face, and to both the right and left sides of her upper leg area.

The child originally said the injuries were from the family cat, police said, but she told a classmate that she had been hit in the face by Mooney every day since someone went to jail. 

The child later told investigators that she accidentally spilled Mooney's foot powder and he slapped her multiple times before beating her with a belt, police said.

Mooney was booked into the Duval County Jail and ordered held on $25,000 bond.Â