By Associated Press - Friday, May 9, 2014

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Prosecutors in Billings say a man and his girlfriend used a lighter to burn his 6-year-old daughter.

Blaine K. Startin Jr. and Amber Irene Reynolds are charged with felony assault on a minor and an alternative charge of felony attempt to commit obstructing justice.

The Billings Gazette reports (bit.ly/QmqScg) the girl’s mother told police she found bruising and multiple burn marks after picking up her daughter from the 43-year-old Startin’s home on Feb. 14.



Hospital officials said the bruising appeared to be from someone holding her down and the burns appeared to be from a lighter.

The 30-year-old Reynolds told police the neck bruising was from a balloon and the burns may have been from an open oven door.

Justice Court Judge Pedro Hernandez set their bonds at $25,000 Thursday.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, https://www.billingsgazette.com

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