The parents kept a warning on their fridge–a threat of a spanking, in the form of a paint stick–to frighten the children, a supposed deterrent of misbehavior.
On Monday, it was one of the parents’ behavior–his alleged disciplining of one of the children–that landed Ramon Pardo, 45, in jail, facing a charge of felony child abuse.
Officials at the children’s elementary school in Palm Coast had reported to the Department of Children and Families that they’d detected signs that the 10-year-old boy had been abused: he had a bruised neck, and later bruises were found on his foot.
The child was asked about the bruising. It was from Papi-Obi, the child said, referring to Pardo. The boy said he was spanked because he had lied and was being punished, according to Pardo’s arrest report.
Pardo and his partner, Billy Sprayberry Jr., who adopted the two children when they were very young, spoke to Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies about the incident. The afternoon of Nov. 18, the two parents were speaking with the boy about his schoolwork. The boy allegedly told a lie, they said, upsetting both parents. According to Sprayberry, Pardo was going to grab the boy by the shirt and tell him to go to his room and strip down to his boxers for a spanking. When Pardo grabbed the boy by his collar, his hand moved or slipped, according to Pardo’s partner, causing Pardo to “scratch” the boy on his neck and upper chest area.
Pardo then went to the boy’s room, removed his (Pardo’s) leather belt, and whipped the 10-year-old boy on the back of his legs. Only then, when Sprayberry saw that Pardo “was more upset than usual,” the report states, he stepped in to stop the whipping.
Investigators spoke with the boy’s 8-year-old sister, who corroborated the information. The boy told investigators that both parents had spanked him before, using a belt or a paint stick. The paint stick is kept on top of the fridge. Sprayberry, according to the report, told investigators that the paint stick is kept there as “a way to threaten a spanking, in hopes that the children will stop doing the action that was getting them yelled at.”
Deputies noted that the relationship between the parents and their children appeared warm and affectionate in their presence. When Prado arrived, for example, they embraced him in hugs and kisses, and at no point appeared afraid to be with either parent or in the home. A Department of Children and Families child protective investigator was also there during the preliminary investigation, and told the parents that a safety plan would have to be implemented, “especially since both parents were present during the incident and the abusive actions were not stopped until after the marks occurred,” the arrest report states.
The DCF investigator told the parents that Ramon was to have no unsupervised contact with the children. That was made moot by a pre-trial court order forbidding Pardo from having any contact with the victim. A Child Protection Team meeting was to follow. Pardo bonded out eight hours after he was booked at the jail.
Corporal punishment is permissible in all 50 states as long as it does not cause injury. Often the standard is “reasonable” as opposed to “unreasonable” force. Thirty-one states have banned corporal punishment in schools. Florida is not among them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics last fall updated its 20-year-old guidance on discipline with a strongly worded policy statement against spanking that was based on more recent research. “Corporal punishment – or the use of spanking as a disciplinary tool –increases aggression in young children in the long run and is ineffective in teaching a child responsibility and self-control,” an AAP statement read. “In fact, new evidence suggests that it may cause harm to the child by affecting normal brain development. Other methods that teach children right from wrong are safer and more effective.” The American Psychological Association adopted a similar policy this year.
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Lamo says
I call Bullshit. A good old spanking, never hurt anyone, lack of it, damn sure did…
Mary Fusco says
Sorry Lamo, but beating a child with a belt is not a “good old spanking”. My parents believed in the old belt manner of discipline which is why I would never touch one of my children with anything but a good slap on the butt when needed. Nor do they hit their children. This type of punishment just teaches children that this is how you react to situations. No wonder we have people punching people in the face or killing them for cutting in a line. This big he man should be ashamed of himself. If he is beating a kid with a belt because he lied in elementary school, what the heck is he going to do when he is a teen? Scary thought. Sadly kids today are basically raising themselves and making up their own rules. Then the idiot parents get all bent out of shape and do things like this.
Nancy N. says
And yet actual experts who’ve done actual scientific research on the topic say otherwise. But don’t let facts get in the way of your opinions.
Little Big Man says
So “hitting a small child with an object is OK, as-long as it doesn’t cause injury.” Yeah, that’s really smart legislation! That’s why abusers try to hide what they do. Injury is relative, I guess emotional, and mental doesn’t count because its not visible. Why does this guy have a Deltona address if he and his partner have kids enrolled in Flagler County?
Willy Boy says
Born and raised in Florida. High school Principal and Coach both had big ole paddles with holes drilled in them. Heavy jeans didn’t stop the sting or welts. Many parents from the ’60’s would be in jail these days. We all had to say “Ma’am” and “Sir”, too. As horrible as today’s psychologist would deem those methods, school shootings were unknown. We are a kinder, gentler society these days, but the kids are a tad unruly.
Adios America says
I’m seriously thinking of leaving the country. The government is interfering with parenting and ruining our kids.
Trailer Bob says
WHen I was young, my parents would whip me with a belt if I was bad. Guess what…I live and have no mental issues from those painful whippings. But I told my wife just recently…soon it will be illegal to even whip your kids butts with a belt. Damn…now here we go. I am not saying that I ever did that to my son, but damned….can’t even raise your children anymore. Some kids will only respond to something more than taking away their allowance.
Mary Fusco says
Trailer Bob, I was hit with a belt to as a child, which is why I realize it is not the way to go. It solves nothing except to make your kids afraid of you and they will continue it with their own kids or anyone else who gets in their way because they have no coping skills. I would die if anyone hit one of my grandchildren with a belt. Kids learn by example. My son is 50. Many years ago my husband and I and the 4 kids were shopping. When we got to the car, I noticed that my son had a pack of candy that I did not buy. Maybe as a 6 YO he didn’t realize it was wrong. My husband promptly took him back inside, asked for the manager and explained and paid for the candy. Then he threw it away. What would beating him have proved? He was scared enough that he had to go and face the manager. LOL. Kids get desensitized to someone hitting them and it means nothing after a while.
Candy says
Many states make it illegal to use an “instrument.” Find out the laws in your state before it’s too late.
Geezer says
Bruised neck and feet… That crosses into child abuse.
You don’t take your anger and frustrations out on children.
SOB
carol says
Government over reach.
Mind your own business!!!
Palm Coast Mom of 2 says
As a parent myself , I believe a good old butt whopping sometimes is necessary to keep these kids in check these days however, I don’t agree it should leave marks, that’s abuse. A couple years ago I slapped my son as he verbally disrespected me and he went and told a school official, which resulted in a DCF investigation being opened. Needless to say the case was closed as there were no marks, bruises, or other signs of abuse. My son hasn’t disrespected me since :) So besides the inconvenience of having someone come to my home to “investigate”, he learned his lesson as to not to mouth off as he is just a kid. As a side note, the DCF worker said she is a mom herself and would have done the same placed in my position.
Krug says
Your results would have varied depending on the jurisdiction. You got lucky. Do a Google search.
Grand Dad says
Hey SCHOOL OFFICIALS, stay the hell out of Parents disciplining their children. Its gotten to a point in this country where parents can’t touch their children or face jail. What that will cause is SPOILED BRAT SERIAL KILLERS in the near future.
Spare the Rod…Spoil the child !!!!!!
Personal Experience says
Amen
GlowWorm says
I grew up in this school system and I had the paddles on my butt. To be honest, it was a time when we had more respect for everyone and everything because we were taught to respect people and things. And even though there was no paddle in these schools when my children went to the same schools, my children knew to do the same.
Ginger says
Hey I was raised by the belt wooden spoon but when it came to my child I hit on the butt washed mouth out soap but never beat whip no that to me is abuse sorry!! enjoy ur day y’all 🤪😀
John dolan esq. says
Yes we are just cavemen. You always hurt the one you love.
C’mon man says
Mary just because you won’t spank you’re kids doesn’t mean your practice is the right choice. Many Kids these days have no respect for their parents, teachers, or police because they know there are no consequences other then losing the PlayStation for a few days.
Mary Fusco says
C’mon man, I never said I did not “spank” my kids, I said I NEVER beat them with an object. My spanking consisted of a slap on the butt when needed. Imagine, my kids had no cell phones, internet, playstations, or cable TV but they were taught respect for their parents and all others at a very early age. Difference between parenting back in the stone age and today. Parents today have opted out of parenting and when they get frustrated with the nightmares they have created by giving them anything and everything their little hearts desire to get rid of them, they resort to beating with belts and other objects or punching them. We never had to resort to these tactics because our children were taught respect. They are all adults today and have never disrespected us in any way. On a side note, you are condoning a 200 pound man beating a 40 pound child. Food for thought.
C’mon man says
Mary I’m not condoning child abuse, and Nowhere in my post did I say that it’s ok for a 200lb person to beat a 40lb child. What I did say however was many children these days have no respect adults including teachers, police or that little old lady at the WalMart checkout line. Maybe parents should parent and not be best friends with their kids.
Alphonse Abonte says
Anything the government gets involved with goes south really fast.
Lee Greenwood says
That’s quite the blind blanket statement. These United States of America is literally a government. Without that government you’re so quick to dismiss, there is no USA, and likely no open ability to safely make your rediculous comment.
ASF says
These two guys obviously have no idea how to be reasonable disciplinarians. They are probably repeating whatever patterns they were taught. Their children deserve better. I say give the family a chance to learn more effective ways to communicate and deal with stress but keep them on a tight leash as far as surveillance goes.
Ld says
Are adoptive parents legal citizens? If so, court ordered parenting classes needed for this family, at minimum. Physical assault is not a logical consequence for lying about schoolwork. Repeating a grade if needed is.
Nancy N. says
Wow, that first question is insanely racist. It’s obviously nothing but a knee-jerk reaction to the parents’ ethnicity.
Nancy N. says
Anyone who feels that it is necessary to hit a child to impose discipline is just a lazy parent. There are plenty of other ways to raise children as good people without the threat or use of violence. But it takes more time, effort and patience to do it without using violence, and too many people continue to prefer taking the shortcut.
ASF says
It’s kind of counter-intuitive to think you can teach your children to earn self-control by losing your self-control. Children live what they learn.