EAGLE MOUNTAIN — A criminal charge was filed Monday against an a father accused of forcibly shaving off his daughter's hair because he was angry with her grades at school.
Julio Cesar Mena, 51, of Eagle Mountain, is charged in 4th District Court with aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony.
On Thursday, Mena checked his 14-year-old daughter out of school and took her home because he "was angry over (her) grades and her friends." When they got home, he "forcefully" took off the teen's jacket, pushed her into a chair and "grabbed a pair of hair clippers and tried to shave (her) hair," according to charging documents.
When the girl tried to stop Mena from cutting her hair, he "grabbed her and threw her to the ground, putting his knee on her chest to restrain her. The defendant grabbed (the girl) by her hair, yanked her head, and pulled her around the floor, forcing her to a sitting position, then kicked her legs," the charges allege.
Mena dragged the girl to a basement bathroom as she cried and pleaded with him to stop, and then "forcefully cut off all her hair, causing abrasions on her scalp. (The girl) reported that she had a lot of pain in her head and officers noted that her hands were also bruised," according to the charges.
The girl's stepmother called police. Utah County sheriff's deputies said the victim "displayed significant psychological fear of (Mena) due to his causing mental anguish, humiliation and distress."
Mena claimed he did the same thing to his oldest daughter, "and it fixed the problem," a police booking affidavit says.
Child abuse resources:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
- The Utah Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect families with community resources. Its goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe." Visit dcfs.utah.gov/contact-us/ or call 801-538-4100.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
