Father Charged With Criminal Abuse For Son's Sunburn

June 11, 2008

Lather your kids with lotion or be charged for sunburn. A Kentucky father was arrested and charged with criminal abuse after failing to protect his 2-year-old son from the sun's intense rays with proper clothing, sunscreen or shade. The shirtless tot was outside playing with his dad for at least 90 minutes and suffered second and third degree burns on his arms and back. Bobby Jones, 27, is currently in jail and cannot see his son for at least two weeks while the investigation continues.

25 Comments

3 years 42 weeks

I think most of you are all a bunch of fucking idiots this man was outside playing with his son. He wasnt trying to hurt him he was trying to have a good time. I would kill to have had a dad that would have played with me. He should be let go and his son given back this is shit fucking bullshit fuck all you stuck people it was a fucking mistake!!!!!!!!!

3 years 51 weeks

when my son was in grade school the school had a field day for the hole school my son skin fair camehome sun burned had a ruff night with him he was home two days from school i call the school and told them this better never happen again geez's this poor dad poor kid cps just wants another kid let the dad gohome and be with his kid

justanerd1975 4 years 43 weeks

that is negigent and absolutely punishable by law, I'll bet he had a shirt on or maybe even sunscreen.

i am awesomeness 4 years 48 weeks

There was a certain level of abuse, specifically neglect, since the kid was burned so badly. Reasonable people know that when you're going to be in the sun with a baby/toddler for ANY length of time you need to slather on the sunscreen because kids are more sensitive to the sun's rays than adults.

sldc 4 years 49 weeks

Jailing an ignorant person is reactionary and hardly a solution.How about some parenting classes? A warning?I remember getting a burn like that one when I was in first grade. Normally I was not allowed out in the sun without sunscreen (not that it had any UVA protection back then), but it washed off in a pool and I burned badly in about an hour. If this man was merely ignorant and anyone thinks he should rightfully be jailed, then all of our parents should be jailed for our prolonged UVA exposure (due to the sunblock allowing increased exposure). Jail is for murders and real child abusers. I would be willing to bet if he were upper middle class, he would have not been jailed. Sending Daddy to jail does little to help anyone, unless this is a pattern of abuse and neglect.

sldc 4 years 49 weeks

Jailing an ignorant person is reactionary and hardly a solution. How about some parenting classes? A warning? I remember getting a burn like that one when I was in first grade. Normally I was not allowed out in the sun without sunscreen (not that it had any UVA protection back then), but it washed off in a pool and I burned badly in about an hour. If this man was merely ignorant and anyone thinks he should rightfully be jailed, then all of our parents should be jailed for our prolonged UVA exposure (due to the sunblock allowing increased exposure). Jail is for murders and real child abusers. I would be willing to bet if he were upper middle class, he would have not been jailed. Sending Daddy to jail does little to help anyone, unless this is a pattern of abuse and neglect.

rgrl 4 years 49 weeks

I know what you mean Toxxic, I think this guy is uneducated about the dangers of the sun. I honestly think he had no clue. It's very sad. I would call it irresponsible when someone is informed but does nothing about it. In his case I think it was just stupidity. I really don't know what should be done about it. :?

t0xxic 4 years 49 weeks

I find this ridiculos. For real. Hes dad. 90 minutes is not that long. An hr and half? Come on. Maybe its just me but not many men take there kids out side and remember the sunblock. I bet dad was shirtless too and lil boy copied him. My youngest got a 2nd degree burn on his face last year. I had sunscreen on him a hat a umbrella and the shade of his stroller. He was at the beach and there was no stopping it. Are you kidding? If I had went to jail for that Id kick someones ass he was outside for 4 hrs. Yea sunscreen is important but for he didnt intend to harm the boy the mans prolly never used sunscreen a day in his life thats not negligence.

t0xxic 4 years 49 weeks

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 49 weeks

I agree with the arrest, 2 years old and 90 minutes in the sun, 2nd and 3rd degree burns? absolutely negligence

backfat 4 years 49 weeks

AH! I'm insane about sunblock. My kids basically hate me for it. I'm constantly badgering them to get some put on before they head outside.

Mishell 4 years 49 weeks

We got 2nd and 3rd degree burns every summer when I was a kid, but we were a family of fair-skinned red-heads. And the burns were through sunscreen. I rarely go outside in the summer now. Not sure what I'll do when it's time to take the little one out.

leeluvfashion 4 years 49 weeks

When I first read the headline I was preparing myself to argue and defend the father (to a point)... until I read the type of sunburn the child received. The poor child! The father deserves criminal charges for not protecting his son; your child should always have sun protection and to be so ignorant to not notice your child burning so badly... just awful.

JessNess 4 years 49 weeks

I thought it was out of proportion too until I read the age of the child and how long he was outside without any protection. At that age the skin is so delicate and to have absolutely no protection at all is ridiculous. I understand if you forget the sunscreen but at least put some clothes on the kid and limit the time in the sun. That just seems like common sense. Since the kid has had such a damaging burn at such a young age he will have to be regularly screened for skin cancer now.Romaniagirl- I was outside all the time as a kid without sunscreen too! I think the sun is a lot more intense now than it was even 10 years ago. I was always out in the sun but after my first almost cancer scare when I was 13 I have become the sunscreen queen- although I still tan through sunscreen and I use SPF 50

JessNess 4 years 49 weeks

I thought it was out of proportion too until I read the age of the child and how long he was outside without any protection. At that age the skin is so delicate and to have absolutely no protection at all is ridiculous. I understand if you forget the sunscreen but at least put some clothes on the kid and limit the time in the sun. That just seems like common sense. Since the kid has had such a damaging burn at such a young age he will have to be regularly screened for skin cancer now. Romaniagirl- I was outside all the time as a kid without sunscreen too! I think the sun is a lot more intense now than it was even 10 years ago. I was always out in the sun but after my first almost cancer scare when I was 13 I have become the sunscreen queen- although I still tan through sunscreen and I use SPF 50

snowysakurasky 4 years 49 weeks

D: so sad, poor little guy. i feel so bad for the innocent kids who cant rely on their parents.

rgrl 4 years 49 weeks

Terrible! It makes me wonder how me and my friends survived childhood without sunscreen? We were always outside in the summer.

kikidawn 4 years 49 weeks

mini_pixie,I was thinking the same thing! Sunburn = abuse?!? But after reading about the 90 min shirtless in the sun... which led to 2nd and 3rd degree burns I agree with it.

kikidawn 4 years 49 weeks

mini_pixie, I was thinking the same thing! Sunburn = abuse?!? But after reading about the 90 min shirtless in the sun... which led to 2nd and 3rd degree burns I agree with it.

amber_castaldo 4 years 49 weeks

that is so terrible. I feel so bad for the little boy. THat must hurt so bad. My son hates it when I put sunscreen on him and sometimes wont even let me put clothes on him. Naturally I make him sit still long enough so I can cover the majority of his body but I am sure there are times were I miss spots.

amber_castaldo 4 years 49 weeks

RobinFabulous 4 years 49 weeks

I may be in the minority, but I think he should be charged. Negligence is a step away from abuse in mho. People shouldn't have children if they don't want to take care of them

albeli 4 years 49 weeks

Poor little boy!

albeli 4 years 49 weeks

Poor little boy!

mini_pixie 4 years 49 weeks

Just reading the headline, this sounds totally out of proportion, but when you think about the fact that the kid was 2, had no shirt, and had 2nd and 3rd degree burns? This guy endangered his kid's life- not just now, but who knows if the kid'll wind up with skin cancer later... No sympathy from me.

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