Man found guilty of beating children, sentenced to 28 years

CLEVELAND - A Cleveland man was sentenced to 28 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of beating his girlfriend’s two children.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason said Darius Clark was found guilty of four counts of felonious assault, two counts of child endangering resulting in serious physical harm and two counts of domestic violence on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Clark beat his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son and 22-month-old daughter. Authorities were alerted to the beating on March 17 after the 3-year-old’s daycare teacher noticed his injuries.

Prosecutors said the boy was bruised on his body, and had whip-like marks on his back and face. According to prosecutors, the 22-month-old girl had two black eyes. She also had burns on her face, arms and legs.

The children’s mother, Taheim Traywick, pleaded guilty to permitting child abuse, child endangerment and domestic violence. Traywick told authorities she had gone to Washington D.C. on March 16 to engage in prostitution. She will be sentenced on Dec. 10.