Couple face child assault, endangerment charges

Doctor reported bruising all over 1-year-old’s body

An Altoona couple face charges for allegedly subjecting a 1-year-old boy to repeated punishments that included trying to force the child to do military-style push-ups and sit-ups. Police said a doctor found bruises on the boy's head, sides, back, hips, buttocks, thighs and both arms.

Morgan K. Porter, 21, of 1215 19th Ave. was arraigned Tuesday on a felony count of aggravated assault of a child under the age of 6 and misdemeanor counts of simple assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child after a monthlong investigation by Altoona police that started when her son's pediatrician reported bruising all over the child's body on Dec. 14.

Also charged is Porter's fiancee, 23-year-old Devin Lee Heinztelman, who lives at the same address. Both Porter and Heinztelman spanked the boy for "crying, fussing and normal behaviors of that of a 1-year-old," Altoona police Detective Cpl. Nichole Douglas wrote in the charges.

Police allege Heinztelman, a Marine Corps reservist, repeatedly spanked the boy and tried to make the 1-year-old do sit-ups and push-ups as punishment. Police said pictures of these exercises were put on Facebook but then removed once police began investigating the couple. One photo obtained by police allegedly shows Heinztelman kneeling over the boy, who is crying.

Douglas questioned Porter and Heinztelman and had them give written and signed statements. The boy was spanked by Heinztelman for "repeatedly doing something wrong," Douglas wrote, adding that Heinztelman said in his statement, "But he did it, to, you know, get under our skin just to be a little brat about it." Heinztelman also told police he hit the boy over temper tantrums, police pointed out.

Heinztelman, who police said was the child's "primary disciplinarian," also put in his statement that "he was forcing the victim to lead off with his left leg and would often prevent him from using his right leg by holding it back or 'tapping the child on the butt' when he would lead with his right leg," Douglas wrote, adding this was consistent with the Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual.

Porter allegedly admitted to spanking the child, but Douglas found contradictions in her statement and "inconsistencies with her version of discipline in their home."

Police said Porter admitted she left the boy alone in his room for extended periods of time, and there was evidence this was done as a form of punishment.

Police said prior to the investigation, Porter had been provided guidance and instruction on the care of the child since he was born and Heinztelman had been "provided constant training in the forms of videos, pamphlets and verbal instruction that a child of his age cannot intentionally break rules and should not be physically disciplined."

A witness told police Heinztelman "paddled the child for drooling on him when the child was 8 months old," Douglas added.

Porter remains free on a unsecured $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Central Court on Jan. 24 for a preliminary hearing. Her attorney, Mark Zearfaus, said, "plenty of people had access to the child" leading up to the appearance of the bruises.

"We'll be looking at the evidence carefully," Zearfaus said.

Heinztelman is currently attending a two-week drill as part of his Marine Reserves obligations and will be arraigned when he returns, police indicated Tuesday.

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.