By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John have detained a LaPlace man on charges that he physically assaulted his 9-year-old stepson after administrators at the boy’s school discovered possible signs of abuse, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Ronnie Singleton, 28, 404 Sugar Pine Drive, surrendered to deputies, who came out to his Jefferson Parish workplace Wednesday afternoon, said Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the St. John Sheriff’s Office. Singleton is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility on charges of second-degree battery and cruelty to juveniles. His bond was set at $300,200.

A report from the Sheriff’s Office states that deputies were called out to Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School after Singleton’s 9-year-old stepson complained to teachers and administrators about pain in his head, arm and side. Clement said when deputies spoke to the boy he said that his stepfather beat him with a tree branch. Clement said deputies observed bruises, abrasions and swelling on the boy’s face and arms. The boy was taken to River Parishes Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Clement said investigators later learned that the boy had been beaten with the branch and also with a belt buckle. Clement said the abuse may have gone back as long as five years.

The young victim and four other juveniles living at the home have been removed from the residence and placed in the custody of the St. John Office of Community Services.