<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Qo8nL_0wBWImIq00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Qo8nL_0wBWImIq00" width="900" height="505" ></figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Springfield man has been charged after allegedly holding a six-year-old boy underwater.According to online court documents, Donald Joseph Smith is charged with one count of abuse or neglect of a child. The probable cause statement from the Springfield Police Department (SPD) states that Smith had been released on parole for a 20-year armed criminal action sentence in March 2024 and was staying in the victim and his family's home when the incident occurred in May. The victim's mother told SPD she was inside the house when she heard her son screaming from outside. When she arrived outside seconds later, she said she saw Smith with his hand on her son's chest, pushing him into a water-filled sandbox while her son attempted to get out. Documents say Smith moved away as the victim's mother got outside.In an interview with the victim, the boy said Smith had grabbed him by the hair and pushed his head underwater. Documents say the boy told interviewers he couldn't breathe and that Smith slapped him on the cheek when he tried to move his head to one side. The boy also claimed that Smith had put him underwater because Smith had asked him not to get in the pool. When investigators interviewed Smith, documents say he claimed the boy had been kicking his sisters out of the sandbox and was refusing to stop when Smith asked. Smith said he had touched his finger to the victim's chest to get his attention, but the boy had yelled at him to stop touching him. According to documents, Smith claimed the victim's mother responded by saying the child didn't like that, and that Smith had said "okay" and backed away. The probable cause statement also states that during their interview with Smith, investigators noted that he "...exhibited explosive anger..." and has a criminal history that includes assault, robbery and armed criminal action.Smith is currently being held in the Greene County Jail on a $10,000 bond.News Source : https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/springfield-man-accused-of-holding-six-year-olds-head-underwater/</div></body>

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Springfield man accused of holding six-year-old's head underwater

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Springfield man has been charged after allegedly holding a six-year-old boy underwater. According to online court documents, Donald Joseph Smith is charged with one count of abuse or neglect of a child. The probable cause statement from the Springfield Police Department (SPD) states that Smith...