The mother of a 7-year-old nonverbal boy testified a Tennessee man threatened to kill her and her family if she reported he beat her son with a shower head in Concord Township, which is why she waited about four months to report it.

Marlin Bailey, 50, of Manchester, Tenn., was absent from the Tuesday, July 7, preliminary hearing. He is facing one misdemeanor count each of child endangerment and simple assault. His attorney, Alexander Lindsay, said he was in Tennessee.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton held all charges for court and issued an arrest warrant for Bailey.

The boy’s mother testified she came home from work in August and discovered bruises on her son’s buttocks. Assistant district attorney Robert Zanella presented two photos of the bruises.

The mother said when she questioned Bailey about it, he first said he wouldn’t hurt the boy. She said he then changed his story and said he hit the boy with a spatula because he became frustrated while potty training the boy and the boy defecated in his pants.

She said she screamed at Bailey and was so distraught that she vomited. She also alleged Bailey threatened to kill her and her family if she reported it, and he had pinned her to the ground by stepping on her face.

The woman said the same day, she looked through the kitchen utensils in the home and did not find one that matched the bruises on the boy’s buttocks.

“There was spotted bruising on him that matched the nubs of the shower head,” she said.

She testified Bailey’s behavior calmed after the incident and only targeted her. She continued to bring up the incident until a month or two later, she said, when Bailey admitted to beating the child with a square shower head and giving him a cold shower.

She said she eventually reported the incident in December.

Lindsay argued the child did not see a doctor for his injuries and the mother waited around four months after the incident to report it.

The boy’s mother said she did not immediately report it because Bailey did not allow her to leave the house without knowing her location.

Lindsay also argued every parent who spanks a child should not face charges, but Stoughton said there is a difference between a father and a mother’s boyfriend disciplining a child.

Zanella said the photos of the bruising and Bailey’s admission to her were enough to hold the charges for court. The district attorney’s office may add a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats in the future.

Bailey’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 25 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.