EAST PENNSBORO TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY–An Enola man is accused of punishing a 3-year-old boy by tying him up with duct tape and stuffing a tissue in his mouth to keep him from crying.
James Franklin Miller, 32, is charged with aggravated assault on a victim less than six-years-old, recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment of a minor, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. He was arraigned Monday and has since posted $10,000 bail.
Police began investigating Miller in early October 2016 after receiving a report from a woman who claimed Miller used duct tape to tie up her 3-year-old grandson, according to the criminal complaint. Miller and the woman had been in a relationship at the time of the incident, court documents state.
On the night of Oct. 1, the woman told police that she and her grandson stayed the night at Miller’s apartment in Enola. When she awoke the next day she said Miller explained that he used duct tape to restrain her grandson because he had acted up. One of Miller’s children told the woman that he used a knife to cut the tape off the boy, only after Miller left him tied up on the couch to go to bed, court records state. The woman witnessed duct tape in the trash can and immediately left the apartment, according to court documents.
When the woman asked her grandson about what happened he said that Miller tied his hands and feet together with duct tape. He also said Miller put a tissue in his mouth to stop him from crying. The boy had several abrasions to his wrists where the duct tape had been placed, court documents state.
Investigators reviewed a series of text messages Miller exchanged with the woman. In one of the texts, Miller writes that he hopes the woman can one day forgive him and that he is sorry for what he has done, according to the criminal complaint.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.
