A Connecticut couple allegedly punished a nine-year-old girl with a shock collar over grades in school, Fox News reported.
Eduardo Montanez, 43, and Paula Montanez, 34, were arrested on Tuesday following an investigation that began after the girl notified a teacher, who immediately reported the information to the state's Department of Children and Families.
Eduardo Montanez is being held on $250,000 bond and was charged with third-degree assault, risk of injury to a child, and cruelty while his wife is being held on $200,000 bond and was charged with risk of injury to a child, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault, and conspiracy to commit cruelty.
The couple is scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday at Danbury Superior Court. It is unknown if they have legal representation yet.
According to a report by WSFB-TV, the couple forced the girl to bark as she put the collar on to make sure it would shock her after they were dissatisfied with her grades in school.
Police say Montanez's wife witnessed the abuse but did nothing to stop it. In addition, the nine-year-old girl claimed the shock collar was only put on her once though marks on her neck indicate that it could have happened several times. She also said the couple beat her on multiple occasions.
"You have to discipline your kids and keep them in line, but you don't need to put a shock collar on them," said neighbor Desiree Gesualdi. "That's disgusting. You don't do that to your kids or anybody."
"I just wanted to throw up. My stomach hurt. That's disgusting. You don't do that to your kids or anybody," Gesualdi added.
Another neighbor agreed and suggested the couple seek counseling services for their behavior.
"If they did it, they belong in jail," the neighbor said. "They need counseling because you don't do that to a child."
