A stepfather is in hot water after he allegedly slapped a 12-year-old boy in the face.
According to ABC 13, Deer Park, Texas police charged James Olander Peace with felony injury to a child as a result of the assault.
The assault reportedly took place because Peace believed the 12-year-old was bullying his stepdaughter.
Peace’s wife told ABC 13 that her husband was sticking up for her daughter, who told them that the 12-year-old and his friends were mocking her during her walk home from school.
The mom explained:
“Saying that her body was ugly, said that she was a transvestite, started throwing ice cream at her and then they picked up the rocks.”
It was after the girl was mocked and had ice cream thrown at her that she called Peace to ask for a ride home.
Peace came upon his stepdaughter’s alleged bullies while on his way home with his stepdaughter. According to Deer Park Police Lutenient Chris Brown, Peace got out of his vehicle to confront the 12-year-old and his friends:
“On the drive home, they happened to see the suspect juvenile walking and that’s when the stepdad decided to stop and confront the kid.”
Lutenient Brown continued:
“He was slapped across the face with an open hand, had red marks and swelling to his cheek and upper jaw.”
According to investigators, the assault was caught on nearby surveillance cameras. The footage from those cameras is aiding in the ongoing investigation.
The 12-year-old reportedly told police that after Peace hit him, he threatened to beat them up if they told anyone about the slap.
Peace’s wife told ABC 13 that she does not condone her husband’s actions, adding that she believes his emotions got the best of him:
“I do not agree with what he did, he took it too far, he did.”
It was not made clear if the surveillance cameras also caught the 12-year-old throwing ice cream and rocks at Peace’s stepdaughter, or if the boy faces any repercussions for his alleged actions as well.