A woman's live-in boyfriend has been charged with abusing a Crystal River girl, 5.

Corey Lamar Kendrick, 28, also of Crystal River, was arrested by Citrus County deputies on Tuesday.

According to the arrest report, Kendrick is said to have used a black slipper with a rubber sole to spank the girl and her 6-year-old brother. The injuries sustained by the girl were serious enough for Kendrick to be charged with child abuse.

The woman told Citrus County deputies that she had given Kendrick permission to discipline the children, and that most of the time he would put them in "time out." Under questioning after being read his rights, Kendrick told an investigator that he did not mean to cause severe injuries.

The arrest report notes that the boy showed marks on his lower back area, and that the girl showed severe red marks on her buttocks and on her lower back.

During the interview, Kendrick told the investigator that he was convicted several ears ago of aggravated child abuse, had attended all the parenting classes and was not mad when he punished the children.

Kendrick was arrested and taken to the Citrus County jail, where he was charged with child abuse.

Bond was set at $5,000.