(March 13, 2009)

KINGSVILLE--A Kingsville teenager is behind bars tonight charged in a disturbing case of child abuse. Police say he beat and battered an 18 month old girl because she was crying too much.

Authorities said Daniel Flores, 18, is charged with first-degree injury to a child. They said he confessed to burning an 18 month old child in six different areas of her body last week while babysitting.Investigators also said he hit the child and they found bruises all over her body.

They also said Flores and his girlfriend waited two days before getting medical treatment for the child.

"Apparently burned the child because the child would not stop crying," said Sgt. Brad Lile of the Kingsville Police Department. "Burned the child, broke the child's collarbone and had other injuries on her."

Police got a warrant for Flores yesterday and he turned himself in this afternoon to the Kleberg County Jail.

Investigators said the child is getting treated at Driscoll Children's Hospital and is expected to recover from her injuries. Child protective workers have removed the young girl from her home and she's now with a foster family.

Meanwhile, authorities said the mother protected and lied for her boyfriend during this investigation. So far, she isn't facing any criminal charges, but may get arrested before this investigation is over.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com