Hearing delayed for man accused of burning child

The Monday omnibus hearing for a man accused of burning a child with a lighter was pushed to Thursday.

Patrick R. Schroeder, of Havre, born in 1991, was charged Jan. 14 with one count of assault on a minor.

He pleaded not guilty Jan. 23 before District Judge Dan Boucher.

Schroeder's attorney, Roberta Miller Cross Guns was not present at the omnibus hearing held Monday, though Schroeder was present.

Due to Cross Guns being absent, Boucher rescheduled Schroeder's hearing to Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Hill County Courthouse.

"Well, I don't see any way to proceed today," Boucher said.

According to court documents, Child Protection Services brought a 5-year-old boy to the Havre Police Department Jan. 6 after receiving reports that a child may have been abused by the mother's boyfriend.

The child reportedly had a small laceration surrounded by bruising on his upper right eyelid and a burn mark on the lower portion of his right shoulder.

Schroeder's girlfriend told authorities that the boy was starting fires and that she and Schroeder thought that burning the boy would show him "that lighting fires was bad."

The court documents go on to say that when questioned by authorities, Schroeder said the bruising on the boy's eye was an accident and that it was caused by the boy struggling as Schroeder was spanking him with a belt.

Schroeder also reportedly said that the lighter was used for "discipline purposes."

If convicted, Schroeder faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, the court documents say.