Man charged with abusing 4-year-old girl

Undersheriff Chris Swanson said the county's child protective services received word through an anonymous tip that someone should check on the child living at the mobile home. That information was forwarded to the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, which then sent a deputy to a mobile home at the Eastview Mobile Home Park, in Fenton Township at 10:30 p.m.

Sheriff Robert Pickell said their investigation has revealed that a 4-year-old girl, named Sharon, was running around the home as any 4-year-old child would. During questioning, Shorez told detectives he became angered when she continued running around despite him telling her to stop.

While running around, Pickell said that the girl accidentally kicked Shorez' 1-year-old son in his eye. This angered Shorez and he grabbed the girl by her arms, causing bruises.

The sheriff said, over several hours Shorez slapped the girl and poked her in her eyes anywhere from 20 to 40 times to show her what it felt like to be hit in the eyes. He continued to slap her on her head and face.

Pickell said Shorez is also accused of forcing the girl to stand in the corner of the room for up to two hours with a hot space heater near her feet. Detectives observed burns on the girl's feet. The sheriff said the girl was too afraid of Shorez to move away from the heater.

"He was abusive to her," said Pickell.

When the deputy and the Linden police officer arrived, the girl was too afraid to talk to them. Pickell said the girl tried to tell the officers that her injuries were from falling on her own, but they were not convinced.

As the deputy and police officer asked the girl if she was afraid, she shook her head yes. When they asked if she was afraid of someone in the room, she again, shook her head up and down.

Shorez was arrested and transported to the county jail. He remains lodged, unable to post the $10,000 cash bond.

The girl was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment and two other children inside the home were removed.

Pickell said Shorez was dating the sister of the little girl's mother, all of whom were at the mobile home last weekend. No other arrests were made.

Shorez is expected back in district court on Dec. 13 for a preliminary hearing.

 This case comes at the heels of another pending child abuse case where 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun of Argentine Township was allegedly beaten and tortured to death in 2010 by his mother's boyfriend, Brandon Hayes. Hayes' trial is expected to be moved to another county, however, no location has yet been determined.