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<p>EDWARDSVILLE &#8212; A man accused of beating and burning his girlfriend&#8217;s two boys for not eating their food fast enough is heading to county court to face charges.</p><p>Richard Zang, 52, of Garfield Street in Edwardsville, appeared before Magisterial District Judge David Barilla in Paul Roberts&#8217; office for a preliminary hearing on Monday morning. A second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault on a person under the age of 13 and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault were waived to higher court.</p><p>Court records show Zang was initially facing two felony charges of aggravated assault of a person under the age of 13, as well as two misdemeanor counts each of simple assault and reckless endangerment. Assistant district attorney Jenny Roberts said the charges not waived to higher court were withdrawn.</p><p>Zang&#8217;s attorney, Leonard Junker, declined to comment.</p><p>According to the affidavit, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/381150/police-edwardsville-man-beat-burned-boys-for-eating-too-slowly" target="_blank">Edwardsville police were contacted on Sept. 9 by a county Children and Youth Services caseworker</a> about a 10-year-old boy who showed up at school complaining of severe ear pain. The caseworker noticed the child&#8217;s ears were turning black and blue and set up a forensic interview at the Children&#8217;s Advocacy Center in Scranton, which was attended by an Edwardsville police officer.</p><p>The boy told investigators that Zang had become very angry that the boy was taking so long to eat his dinner, so he slapped both of the child&#8217;s ears.</p><p>The boy also said that Zang would make him stand in a corner, with his hands raised, for an hour or more. At other times, Zang &#8220;would hit him when he thought he was acting up.&#8221;</p><p>The boy&#8217;s 12-year-old brother was also allegedly abused by Zang.</p><p>The older boy spoke of a similar incident last year, in which he said Zang felt he was taking too long to finish his dinner, so he made the boy stand in the corner with his arms up. Zang refused to let the child go to the bathroom, and the boy told investigators he ended up urinating in his pants.</p><p>The abuse only intensified after that, the child said. </p><p>A doctor who examined both boys discovered a scar on the older boy&#8217;s pelvis, consistent with a severe burn, police said. The doctor also said both of the younger boy&#8217;s ears would require further treatment.</p><p>A formal arraignment date has been set for Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Zang remains free on bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Zang </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Richard-Zang-9-10-15_toned1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Zang </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Man accused of beating, burning boys for eating too slowly heading to higher court