Muskego Man Charged with Child Abuse

A 39-year-old Muskego man is facing child abuse charges for allegedly striking a 4-year-old child who hit his girlfriend’s child with a spoon.

Thomas Rouse was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of physical abuse of a child. If convicted, he faces up to 3 ½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 25, Rouse was watching the other child and his girlfriend’s child when it was hit with the spoon while the two were playing. To punish the child, he then allegedly spanked the child, which was discovered by the child’s mother the next day when she found bruises on the child.

Rouse is scheduled to make his first appearance in court June 29.