LOGAN — A 45-year-old Logan man faces a first-degree felony charge after allegedly beating his 4-year-old daughter with a belt and telling police he would “be happy” to go to jail to escape his responsibilities at home.
According to court records, Kaleb Troy Nielsen was arraigned Friday’s in Logan’s 1st District Court with intentional or knowing aggravated child abuse. He was ordered to remain in jail and appear again in court Feb. 23.
The investigation began Feb. 11 when Cache County sheriff’s deputies responded to an elementary school following a report from a classroom aide. The teacher’s assistant was changing the diaper of the 4-year-old girl, who has special needs and limited speech, when she discovered a bruise on the child’s upper leg.
When asked about the injury, the child reportedly told the aide, “Dad hit me belt”. Law enforcement reviewed a photo of the bruise and determined it was “consistent with multiple strikes with an object,” a probable cause affidavit detailed.
Investigators also interviewed the girl’s 6-year-old brother, who was described as more talkative. He told deputies that he gets a “whoopin'” with a belt when he gets in trouble. He corroborated the abuse of his sister, explaining she had been “whipped” by their father after making a mess with syrup while the father was asleep.
According to court documents, the children’s teacher had contacted the Utah Division of Child and Family Services the previous day regarding neglect. She reported the 4-year-old frequently arrived at school in dirty clothing and diapers, often without having eaten breakfast. On one occasion, the child became sick at school after reportedly eating a raw egg at home.
When deputies interviewed Nielsen, he expressed frustration with his home life, claiming his wife’s mental health struggles left him to handle everything alone. He allegedly told law enforcement he was “done” and would “be happy to be booked into jail” to “get out of his situation”. He also made a comment about “burning everything like the farmers used to do”.
While Nielsen admitted the child had made a mess with syrup, he initially denied using physical punishment. However, a nurse at the Children’s Justice Center later confirmed the child had “concerning bruises”.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.