Leander Boy's Secret Footage Of Dad Abusing Younger Sibling Leads To Arrest

LEANDER, TX — A Leander man was booked into jail after his son secretly videotaped him violently shaking a younger sibling and reported the abuse to school officials, according to a published report.

Alejandro Gonzalez, 48, is accused of injury to a child, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He is accused of grabbing his two-year-old son—who suffers from cerebral palsy— by the hair and shaking him violently when the toddler was having trouble eating due to his condition, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

The man's other son, a middle schooler, surreptitiously recorded his father abusing the toddler, and alerted school authorities who in turn notified the Williamson County Sheriff's Office two days later on May 24, according to the report.

The boy who recorded the abuse is said to have sent the video to an older sister to prevent Gonzalez finding the footage on the boy's phone, according to an affidavit referenced in the report. A sheriff's deputy viewed the video confirming the older boy's account, and also saw footage showing bruises and red marks on the toddler's buttocks and lower back, according to the affidavit.

Investigators learned the marks left on the boy were from Gonzalez's brand of discipline involving the use of a belt and fly swatter on previous occasions, the report indicates.

As of Tuesday, Gonzalez remains at the Williamson County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Alejandro Gonzalez booking photo via Williamson County jail records