VENICE MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE

A VENICE MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AFTER A TWO MONTH INVESTIGATION INTO A CHILD ABUSE COMPLAINT.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY A COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO THE CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE IN APRIL ABOUT A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HAD CHEMICAL BURNS ON HER WRISTS AND HANDS AFTER SHE WAS FORCED TO WASH FLOORS WITH CHEMICALS AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT.  THE VICTIM WAS INTERVIEWED AND EXAMINED FOR INJURIES, AND SHE HAD LINEAR BRUISES AND LOOP MARKS ON HER LOWER BODY IN ADDITION TO THE BURNS.  SHE SAID SHE WAS PUNISHED BY 38 YEAR OLD JOHN HOLMAN WHILE HER MOTHER WASN’T HOME.  SHE SAID SHE COMPLAINED TO HOLMAN THAT HER HANDS AND KNEES HURT WHILE SHE WAS SCRUBBING THE LANAI FLOOR, BUT HOLMAN SAID THE PAIN WOULD GO AWAY WHEN SHE FINISHED.  DETECTIVES MET WITH THE VICTIM’S TEACHER, WHO SAID THE CHILD WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR HER.  THE SCHOOL PROVIDED LETTERS FROM HOLMAN ASKING THE VICTIM ISOLATED, BUT THE SCHOOL REFUSED.  THE VICTIM AND TWO YOUNGER SIBLINGS WERE PLACED IN DCF CUSTODY AND HOLMAN INVOLKED HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS AT THAT TIME.  HE WAS CHARGED WEDNESDAY WITH ONE COUNT OF FELONY CHILD ABUSE.  HE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL.