A 57-year-old Janesville man accused of beating a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old with his hand and a belt appears in Rock County Court for his preliminary hearing.

According to online court records Friday morning Rock County Court Commissioner Mason Braunschweig found that enough evidence had been presented that a felony had probably been committed by Rodney Spruill and bound him over for trial on two counts of physical abuse of a child – intentionally causing bodily harm.

According to the criminal complaint, the children’s grandmother uncovered the abuse when she noticed bruising on the 6-year-old. The child told the woman that Spruill had beat him for getting toothpaste on the couch.

The 6-year-old told police that Spruill often beats him and his 2-year-old brother when their mother is gone. Investigators photographed extensive bruising on both boys.

Police reviewed text messages to the children’s mother where Spruill demanded she tell police she was the one who spanked the kids.

In court this week Spruill stood mute to the charges and not guilty pleas were entered on hi behalf.