Boy Beaten by Dad Hides in Oven

A Minneapolis man has been charged with child abuse after allegedly beating his son with an extension cord, burning him with an iron and turning on an oven the boy tried to hide in.

William Tajahn Hurley, 23, was charged Monday with malicious punishment of a child for his alleged abuse of the 10-year-old boy.

According to the criminal complaint, officers were called to Hurley's apartment on the 2000 block of Elliot Ave. S. in Minneapolis. The boy told police he was beaten for being in his mother's bedroom, which upset Hurley.

The boy said he hid under his bed, but Hurley threatened to kill him if he didn't come out. The boy told police his dad burned him on the leg and arm with a hot iron. When he tried to escape the apartment, the boy's mother allegedly pulled him back inside, where Hurley whipped him with an extension cord.

The boy said he tried to hide in the family's oven, but climbed out after Hurley turned the oven on and it warmed up.

Hurley was arrested by Minneapolis police after admitting he "whooped" the boy and said he had another beating coming and threatened to beat him in front of the officers.

The boy was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. William Hurley was booked into the Hennepin County jail, with an initial court appearance set for Tuesday afternoon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $3,000 fine.