Lebanon, Ore. Man Accused of Beating Friends Toddler

In addition to the broken collar bone, doctors said the child had over 30 bruises on his body.

A Lebanon, Oregon man has been arrested and charged with repeatedly beating a seventeen month old boy while staying at a friends home earlier this month. Salem-News.com File Image

(LEBANON, Ore. ) - A Lebanon, Oregon man has been arrested and charged with repeatedly beating a seventeen month old boy while staying at a friends home earlier this month.

Lebanon police say on July 14, they were contacted by Lebanon Community Hospital regarding a young male child who was brought to the hospital with multiple bruises on his body and a broken collar bone.

In addition to the broken collar bone, doctors said the child had over 30 bruises on his body; including bruising to his forehead, around his nose and eyes, in his ear, on his stomach and his back.

Lebanon Police detectives then began investigating everyone the child had come into contact with prior to his last injuries, including the mother and a live-in male friend regarding the unexplained injures.

Based on the suspects own statements to detectives, 24-year-old Justin Ray Garton, is charged with two counts of third-degree assault, and had his first court appearance Thursday afternoon in Linn County Circuit Court police said.

The mother of the child continues to be cooperative with law enforcement and Department of Human Services. The child was released from the hospital to the mother, and DHS has a safety plan in place the for the child and a sibling that resides in the same home.

If anyone has any information regarding this case, they should contact Detective Shelly McInnes at 541-258-4329.