A 28-year-old Cheyenne man accused of physically injuring his stepson by spanking him with a flyswatter and rubber belt has been charged with felony child abuse.

Police say they were called to Anderson Elementary School on Oct. 18 after the second-grader told staff he was afraid to go home because he feared his stepdad, Allen Paul Flanary, would spank him for not eating his lunch.

The child said he'd been spanked within the last two days with a flyswatter and rubber belt and photos taken by the school nurse showed significant red marks, bruising and welts on his left leg and buttocks.

​Police questioned Flanary when he came to pick up his stepson from school, and say he admitted to spanking the boy on two separate occasions the day before.

Flanary also reportedly told police that he was in prison years ago for child abuse against another child and had given up custody of that child.

When asked about the flyswatter, Flanary said he threw it away over the summer, but latter admitted to striking his stepson multiple times with it while at home, according to an affidavit.

The boy's mother, Sarah Flanary, told police that she was at work when the spankings occurred, but Flanary had told her about them over the phone.

She said there'd been issues with her son lying about eating and cleaning his room, but she didn't know Flanary used the flyswatter and his belt to spank until she arrived at the school and Flanary told her.

Flanary was subsequently arrested and his stepson and 2-year-old daughter were taken into protective custody.

Flanary is currently being held in the Laramie County jail on a $10,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.

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