Havre man again denies burning child

A man accused of burning a child pleaded not guilty Thursday in state District Court in Havre to amended charges in the case.

Patrick R. Schroeder, born in 1991, of Havre, now is charged with a felony count of assault with a weapon, or, in the alternative, felony counts of assault on a minor and assault with a weapon or, in the alternative, a felony count of assault on a minor.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts Thursday before District Judge Daniel Boucher.

Schroeder originally was charged in January with a felony count of assault on a minor, and pleaded not guilty to that charge.

His next court appearance is scheduled for April 7.

According to court documents, Child Protection Services brought a 5-year-old boy to the Havre Police Department Jan. 6 after receiving reports that a child may have been abused by the mother's boyfriend.

The child reportedly had a small laceration surrounded by bruising on his upper right eyelid and a burn mark on the lower portion of his right shoulder.

Schroeder's girlfriend told authorities that the boy was starting fires and that she and Schroeder thought that burning the boy would show him "that lighting fires was bad."

The court documents go on to say that when questioned by authorities, Schroeder said the bruising on the boy's eye was an accident, and that it was caused by the boy struggling as Schroeder was spanking him with a belt.

Schroeder also reportedly said that the lighter was used for "discipline purposes."