Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced the arrest of Cornelius Burns Jr. (DOB: 08/12/85) of 1019 Sandhills Estates Road, Eastover charged with Inflicting Great Bodily Injury on a Child.

Sheriff Lott states that at 11:00 PM on Friday, August 5, 2011 it was determined after a thorough investigation that Burns did submerge his 3-year old step son’s hand in hot water causing severe injuries to the child.

The victim was transported to a hospital in Augusta Georgia in reference to the injuries the child received. The nurse notified the Richland County Sheriff’s Department due to the statements made by the child. Burns intentionally assaulted the child because he soiled himself. The child has been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services. Sheriff Lott states that there’s no valid excuse or justification for this, our children have a right to be protected and those who violate the rights of our children must be held accountable.

Burns has been transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.