Iowa City man accused of beating two children with household objects

Lang
5/21/24

Allegedly beating two children with household objects has led to a pair of felony charges against an Iowa City man.

45-year-old Alfred Washington of South Dodge Street was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 11:15 Monday morning. Iowa City Police say Washington’s 15-year-old son reported on April 24th that  his father had beaten him the previous night. The boy said Washington had beaten him with wooden paint stirrers that had been taped together, whipped him with an electric cord, and punched him in the chest multiple times. Doctors at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Child Protection Center in Cedar Rapids say the boy’s injuries corroborated his story, and he was still complaining of pain ten days later. The boy also provided text messages where Washington reportedly wrote that he “whooped” him.

A second reported victim claimed Washington beat her with a belt and struck her in the chest. Her injuries were documented by a mandatory reporter, who alleges the abuse may date back as far as May of last year.

Washington is charged with Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury and Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison.