Iraq War veteran charged after surveillance shows repeated abuse of 6-year-old stepson in Florida
A 42-year-old Iraq War veteran is facing aggravated child abuse charges after prosecutors say home surveillance footage captured him violently assaulting his 6-year-old stepson. Zachary Perez, a former U.S. Marine, is accused of repeatedly punching the boy with a closed fist, kicking him, and hurling obscenities at him, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. Video evidence allegedly shows multiple instances of abuse. In one clip, Perez appears to kick the child while yelling at him. Another reportedly captures him kicking the boy again. The arrest report claims Perez also punched the child in the face several times, leaving visible bruises. Amanda Altman, CEO of child advocacy group Kristi House, called the abuse a nightmare for the young victim. She emphasized that signs of abuse aren’t always physical and often show up in a child's behavior — including acting out, social difficulties, and other age-inappropriate responses. Prosecutors say Perez has a history of...