Stephen Herzog

SHERZOG@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Police say a Springfield man punched, kicked and slapped two children in his home as punishment for offenses such as placing a sheet in the wrong place, putting a dog in a kennel and getting wrong answers on math homework.

On Wednesday, Marcus Lee Ralls, 32, was charged with four felony counts related to assaulting children — the offenses allegedly occurring last year.

According to a probable cause statement, the grandmother of two children, ages 12 and 14, took the kids to a hospital because they had injuries after she picked them up from Ralls’ care.

The 12-year-old told officials he was kicked in the legs for “moving (Ralls’) ‘weed’ when he was not asked to do so,” according to the statement.

The boy told officials the abuse had been going on for some time, and recalled several events, according to the statement:

• The boy was told to lay a sheet on the ground so Ralls could cut his hair. The boy “placed the sheet on the floor but not where Ralls wanted it.” Ralls chased the boy in the house and punched him in the eye.

• Two days later, the boy placed one of his dogs in a kennel after Ralls asked him to help with the dogs. Ralls got upset because he did not tell the boy to put the dog in a kennel. Ralls punched the boy in the same eye.

• Ralls hit the boy in the face with a belt after he could not figure out how to fix a hole in his fish tank. Ralls also threw the tank and the animals away.

• The boy said Ralls would make both children go out and sell candy to people and tell them they were part of a school football program that needed uniforms. The boy said Ralls would use the money to buy marijuana.

• The 14-year-old, a girl, said Ralls hit her in the head and pulled her hair when she dripped window cleaner on one of Ralls’ comic books while cleaning a mirror in his bedroom.

• The girl said Ralls slapped her on the legs with a cellphone cord and grabbed her by the throat when she could not get correct answers on her math homework.

• Both children said Ralls smokes marijuana in front of them and sometimes dips the cigarettes in an orange liquid called “the wet,” and becomes crazy. That can refer to marijuana dipped in PCP or embalming fluid.

Ralls was charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and domestic assault. Those crimes typically carry maximum penalties of seven years in prison, but prosecutors say Ralls could face more prison time because he is a prior offender.

According to a felony complaint, Ralls has previously been found guilty of distribution of an imitation controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance, all in Jackson County in 2005.

Prosecutors say that could raise the maximum penalty on the new charges to 15 years in prison each.

A warrant for Ralls’ arrest was requested Thursday, but he has not yet been arrested, according to online jail records.