A Hardin County man has been accused of assaulting and strangling a child.
The Elizabethtown Police Department arrested 47-year-old Freddie L. McQueary, of Elizabethtown, on Monday and charged him with first-degree strangulation (domestic-violence related), second-degree assault and first-degree criminal abuse (victim under the age of 12).
The strangulation and assault counts are class C felonies, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while the criminal abuse charge is a class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
According to The News-Enterprise, the incident occurred on March 4 when McQueary is accused of strangling the child while also pushing his knee into the victim’s stomach. The child told police that he couldn’t breathe during assault.
Police noted that the victim had “visible injuries,” The News-Enterprise reports, including bruising and scratches on the child’s face. Additionally, the child’s back, chest and neck were red and had bruising.
The victim was transported to Baptist Health Hardin.
McQueary is being held in the Hardin County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond.
According to online records, McQueary’s arrest record dates to 2008. His most recent arrests were for alcohol intoxication in a public place and second-degree disorderly conduct in July 2021, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) in July 2019.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
