Couple face abuse charges in scalding of 2-year-old boy

MIAMI, OK — An Ottawa County man accused of spraying his girlfriend's 2-year-old son with scalding water has been charged with child abuse, court officials said Friday.

The child suffered second- and third-degree burns over half his body.

John D. Cellner, 24, of Wyandotte is charged in Ottawa County District Court in Miami. Also charged is Clarissa Pierce, 22, the child's mother, who faces one count of child neglect.

Cellner and Pierce remained in the Ottawa County jail Friday in lieu of $250,000 and $150,000 bail, respectively.

The child was taken into an Ottawa County medical clinic July 2.

There, Cellner told medical personnel he had been working on a vehicle and had removed the radiator cap, causing hot water to spew from the radiator and burn the child, said Ottawa County Sheriff Terry Durborow.

Subsequent interviews determined that Cellner sprayed the child with hot water from a shower head in the bathroom.

Pierce was charged because the burns occurred on June 27 and she didn't seek professional medical attention until July 2, Durborow said.