A man from Commerce was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly slapped and punched his daughter at a private youth wrestling event at Cherokee Bluff Middle School.
According to a release from the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Steven Mathue Slaton, 38, was charged with felony first-degree cruelty to children for the incident just after 2 p.m. Saturday.
Deputies were called to the school after receiving a report about Slaton punching and slapping his daughter.
"The preliminary investigation revealed ... Slaton became angry at his daughter for failing to win a wrestling match being hosted at the school," the release said.
According to an arrest warrant, Slaton punched the girl in the back, slapped her face and then picked her up by her ears, lifting the girl over his head. The girl was not physically injured.
The girl was not a student in the Hall County School District. She and her family had traveled to Hall County for her to compete in a private youth wrestling event. The event was not sponsored by the Hall County School District.
Slaton remained in the Hall County Jail as of Monday afternoon on an $11,300 bond.
