Mother's boyfriend arrested after Phoenix boy suffers broken bones, internal injuries

A Phoenix boy was hospitalized with severe injuries and his mother's boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of abusing the child, according to Maricopa County court documents.

Steven Darrell Nelson, 25, was arrested by Phoenix police at his home near Union Hills Drive and Seventh Street in Phoenix on Tuesday, court documents say.

Nelson was booked on charges of child abuse involving the 4-year-old, officials said.

According to court records, the abuse occurred between Feb. 1 and 3.

The child was hospitalized for three weeks at Phoenix Children's Hospital with multiple injuries, including a broken leg, hair pulled out at the roots, multiple bruises in various stages of healing, a lacerated liver and a bowel perforation, among other injuries, according to court documents.

The boy's injuries were reported by a third party who was not identified in court records.

The boy's mother denied that she or Nelson hurt the child; however, the boy told police Nelson was responsible for his injuries, according to court records.

"Steven hurt me," the child told police, the court records say.

Nelson admitted to police that he had hurt the boy but "in a playful manner," and that he hoped he and the child could one day be friends, according to the court records.

Nelson was being held on a $50,000 bond and is due back in court March 28.

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