Bonney Lake man charged with child assault

TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Marcellus Noelval White, 37, on Tuesday with assault of a child in the second degree. 

White is accused of striking his 4-year-old daughter with his belt multiple times on Sunday. He then allegedly put her into a cold bath for approximately 30-45 minutes.

According to Lindquist, White was angered that his daughter refused to eat her dinner.

The victim and her mother went to the Bonney Lake Police Department on Monday. Lindquist said that the victim winced whenever she moved her left arm, which was marked with welts. She was transported to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

White reportedly followed the victim and her mother to the Bonney Lake Police Department. When questioned about the incident, he admitted he assaulted his daughter and said he put her in the cold bath to make the injuries less visible.

White was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail. He was arraigned Tuesday. Bail was set at $150,000.

KIRO