Lynn man charged with beating child

LYNN – A city man was placed on pretrial probation after witnesses told police the man punched and repeatedly whipped a child with a black leather belt after the child wet the bed.”(The alleged victim) turned around and lifted up his T-shirt, exposing large reddish marks as well as contusions on his upper and lower back area,” Lynn Police Officer Raymond Therrien said in a report.Evens Calixte, 33, of 9 Mall St. #1, was arrested on a warrant for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and assault and battery on a child with injury. A not guilty plea was entered on Calixte’s behalf at his arraignment on the charges in Lynn District Court Tuesday.Police responded to the Mall Street apartment at 12:28 p.m. Sunday where a woman told police Calixte had hit her grandchild with a belt, police reported. The alleged victim’s mother told police that Calixte had hit the child because the child had “wet the bed,” and then hid the dirty sheets and clothing, according to police. The officer reported the alleged victim was visibly upset and crying. The alleged victim answered “?yes,’ but would not elaborate” when asked if Calixte had hit him before, Therrien said.The officer reported the victim and the victim’s mother “were reluctant to file (an abuse-prevention order) because Calixte is a ?good father’ that just needs some help with his ?anger issues.'”Prosecutors at the arraignment requested a dangerousness hearing be held for Calixte. Later in the afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Erin Bellavia and Defense Attorney Michael Dunphy agreed that Calixte be released on pretrial probation with conditions. Conditions include Calixte stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victim and other children in the home; that he comply with Department of Children and Families requirements; and report weekly to probation. By agreement, Calixte also stipulated to probable cause for the charges and that the facts as alleged in the police report and photographs of the alleged victim’s injuries would be enough to find him dangerous.Judge James LaMothe accepted the recommendation, finding Calixte dangerous and ordering him to comply with the conditions of his release. Calixte and family members declined to comment outside the courtroom.Dunphy said it was a sad case; the allegations arose after the child didn’t tell the truth about wetting the bed.”It wasn’t about punishment, it was about honesty,” Dunphy said. “(Calixte) has no record and now is not going to see his kids until around Thanksgiving.”