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Phoenix PD: Pre-teen boy alerts police to 5 years of abuse, including being choked with a belt

Lorenzo Leon Castillo.jpg
Posted at 11:45 AM, Sep 23, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-23 14:45:35-04

PHOENIX — A preteen boy alerts police to five years of abuse, including being choked with a belt.

Phoenix police report that on September 20, they arrested 41-year-old Lorenzo Leon Castillo at his home near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road for child abuse.

Police say Castillo struck a pre-teen boy in the neck with a phone charging cord and a belt because the child couldn't read something for him in English.

The child reportedly told police that Castillo had physically abused him for the past five years. He accused Castillo of punching him and choking him with a belt.

Court records show that Castillo admitted to hitting the boy with the phone charging cord after drinking, saying, "I feel bad for doing that."

His next court hearing is October 4.

If you suspect a child is being abused, the Arizona Department of Child Services has resources available to report the issue to a social worker. You can call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and will be asked for information about the child, as well as the nature of your concerns. You can also get more information from DCS about reporting abuse or neglect online.