A Hudson Valley man has been charged after police say he used a belt to hit an 8-year-old.

Jason Barreto of Liberty was arrested by village police after investigating allegations that he was involved in child abuse. The 34-year-old man reportedly struck an 8-year-old girl "several times" with a belt.

It's not clear if Barreto was disciplining the child or if the alleged beating was an isolated incident or not. Working on a tip, police began looking into the incident and decided to act late Wednesday.

Liberty police partnered with the Family violence Response Team to investigate the allegations and arrested Barreto on Wednesday evening. Charges against the man include assault in the 2nd degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree, both felonies and endangering the welfare of a child, which is a misdemeanor.

Barreto was arraigned sent to Sullivan County Jail. He is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

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