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The grandfather of a mentally challenged adolescent has been charged with felony child abuse for allegedly beating the youth with a belt and choking him.

The suspect, Joseph Ira Starr, 55, is charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated assault. His arrest comes after Tullahoma police responded to a call of an out-of-control juvenile at a residence on Central Avenue. When they arrived they found a 13-year-old mentally challenged child who was unable to talk or communicate with them. He was unable able to stand.

“He was crying and had red marks all over his body from a belt and also had red marks on his neck and petechiae in his eyes and cheeks,” police reported.

Police learned that Starr and his wife have custody of their grandson. “Mr. Starr admitted that he had used a belt to whip the boy when the child lost his temper and began yelling,” the police report reads.

The child was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was evaluated.