This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A West Valley City mother Wednesday was accused of forcing her son smoke marijuana and drink alcohol — and of simply watching while her friend poured Tabasco sauce on the teenager's face and eyes.
West Valley City police have arrested the 14-year-old boy's 38-year-old mother and a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of several felonies related to child endangerment and abuse, according to a probable cause statement released by the Salt Lake County jail.
The boy told police that during the course of the ongoing alleged abuse the women duct-taped his legs and arms so he couldn't move and then locked him in the basement for about 90 minutes.
When the boy dropped a glass pan on the ground when he was 12, police allege the mother's friend pushed him to the floor and injured him by dumping Tabasco sauce into his face and eyes, while the mother simply watched and never attempted to aid her child.
Police also claim the two women spent time in a camping trailer smoking marijuana. The two then decided they wanted the boy to smoke it, too, but when he refused, they held him and forced a glass pipe into his mouth and told him to inhale.
On another occasion, police said, the women were at home drinking alcohol and decided he should have some. When he said, no, they held him down and poured the alcohol over his face and mouth and pried his mouth open so it would go down his throat. The teen told police the alcohol burned going down.
The two women also watched movies of "naked kids doing stuff" while children were home, according to the probable cause statement. Police said the videos, involving people ages 15 to 30, were pornographic in nature.
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