Tyler Irvine

A Center Township man is free on $100,000 bail on charges he assaulted his two children, ages 4 and 6, and choked the younger child, authorities said.

State police arrested 25-year-old Tyler A. Irvine on Thursday. District Judge Lewis Stoughton later arraigned him on two felony counts of child endangerment, two misdemeanor counts each of simple assault and reckless endangerment and two summary counts of harassment.

Police said the children's mother told them that Irvine had custody of their daughters from June 25 to Tuesday. She noticed bruising on the 4-year-old's arms, neck and face when she picked up the children Tuesday morning.

“(The mother) stated she asked her children what happened,” police said, “and the 6-year-old (girl) informed her that daddy hit her sister and choked her.”

The children's mother took the younger girl to Butler Memorial Hospital to be examined. The exam found the girl had bruising to the neck, face, arms, buttocks and lower back.

“Discharge papers from (the hospital) stated suspected child abuse,” according to charging documents.

Police said the mother recounted that when she returned home, she also noticed bruising on her older daughter.

“(The children) “related the punishment was administered by their father because they broke stuff and went outside while he was sleeping,” documents said.

Police said they picked up Irvine at his home and interviewed him at the barracks. Investigators said he did not deny the allegations, but they declined to elaborate.

In addition to imposing bond, Stoughton ordered Irvine have no contact with the children.

Online court records did not list an attorney for Irvine. He could not be reached for comment Sunday. His preliminary hearing is set July 14.