Jeffrey L. Winters, 47, was placed into the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Monday, after being charged with assaulting a 12-year-old boy with a cell phone charging cord

A Butler man was placed into the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Monday, after being charged with assaulting a 12-year-old boy with a cell phone charging cord in May 2017.

Jeffrey L. Winters, 47, was placed into the program with 18 months probation by Judge William Shaffer. He was also ordered to continue his ongoing mental health treatment.

Butler police initially charged Winters with felony aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old and a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment after an incident on May 17, 2017.

Police said Winters became angry with the boy for having a cell phone in his bedroom — something he was not permitted to have, and disciplined the child by lashing him, leaving welts on his back.

A tip through the ChildLine abuse hot line May 18, 2017, launched the investigation, police said.

Winters admitted to whipping the boy, police said.

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Simon told the court that the boy is now living in Minnesota with family, and the family agreed to the ARD program.

Read the full story in the Butler Eagle.