A Texas dad has been jailed for brutally beating his young daughter with a belt and encouraging her to commit suicide, police said.
Alejandro Galvan III, 29, is charged with injury to a child in connection with an incident that occurred at his southeast Houston home on Sept. 7. He is being held behind bars in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
According to a criminal complaint, Galvan's 11-year-old daughter told Child Protective Services that her father hit her on her stomach, legs and buttocks with a belt. The girl, who is not being identified due to her age, also said that he had punched her in the arm, leaving marks and bruises.
The criminal complaint also states that her father had given her "a black gun that she thought was loaded at the time, along with a knife." Galvan allegedly told his daughter to use the items "if she really wanted to commit suicide."
During police questioning, Galvan allegedly agreed that both allegations are true.
"Defendant ... admitted that he caused the marks and bruises to [his daughter's] body with a belt and that he caused the bruise to her right arm when he punched her with his fist out of frustration," the affidavit states. "Defendant told affiant that he did give [his daughter] a gun that was unloaded and a knife to use if she wanted to still kill herself."
Houston police said that the injuries the girl suffered were beyond what is necessary for appropriate corporal punishment.
Galvan was charged with the crime on Friday. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 1. Houston police have confirmed that Galvan is still behind bars. No attorney could immediately be located for him.
"He needs to be in jail for a good while ... not anything short," Galvan's neighbor, Kellie Chattman, told Houston's KPRC.
The mother of two said she felt bad because the girl likely suffered an equal amount of emotional pain. She also speculated this was not an isolated incident.
"He's probably been doing it for a while. I am just glad he got caught for it," Chattman said.
READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT: (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)
Child Protective Services has removed the victim from Galvan's home and placed her in the care of her biological mother, court documents show.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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