SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 22, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake County man was arrested Thursday for allegedly beating his sons with a guitar when they wouldn’t get up for church.
A probable cause statement filed in Salt Lake County’s 3rd District Court said Lamatia Tapumanaia Sa, 61, was charged with with both felony and misdemeanor child abuse in the case.
According to the statement, the 14-year-old son was asleep in bed on the morning of June 30 when his father tried to wake him up for church.
When the teen fell back asleep the father “picked up a guitar and tried to strike him in the head,” the court documents said.
The 14-year-old managed to deflect the head blow, “which he blocked with his hand. He then sat up and Sa hit him with the guitar four more times times … causing a broken arm,” the statement said.
The defendant’s 17-year-old son told police he was awakened the same morning when Sa began beating him with the guitar. He said Sa didn’t stop until the guitar broke into pieces.
After being read his Miranda rights, Sa admitted to the beatings.
His bail has been set at $25,000.
