Stick-figure pictures of boy being abused led to felony charges against father

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KSL.com) — A West Valley father is facing child abuse charges after his son allegedly drew pictures in his school journal of being beaten, according to prosecutors.

Mohamed Hassan, 62, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with four counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.

An investigation began last April when police responded to a residence on a report of possible abuse.

A 7-year-old boy told officers “he did not want to go home because his father, Mohamed Hassan, whips him daily, except during Ramadan. (The boy) stated that he was trying to go far away to hide and asked his friends to call 911,” according to charging documents. (He) showed (police) the scars he had on his arms from being hit with a charger. (The boy) stated that Hassan had also strangled him until (he) thought he was not alive anymore.”

The boy recounted several incidents of being beaten or whipped with a charger, court documents state. Police say the boy drew a picture in his journal at school of him getting whipped and his teacher asked him about it.

When questioned, the teacher told police the boy “had drawn a picture of stick figures all with extended arms holding an item out to an individual stick figure in the middle. (The boy) had written something illegible and (the teacher) asked (him) what he drew.”

The boy then wrote what the teacher interpreted as a picture of every time he was abused, the charges state.