Springtown man accused of abusing toddler

A Springtown man who was caring for a toddler last month is accused of pushing the girl to the floor, rubbing her face in her own vomit and hitting her on the neck, according to an affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram.

Matthew R. Bagwell, 24, was taken into custody late last week and was released after posting $10,000 bail. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The probable-cause affidavit provided this account of the case:

The girl stayed with relatives in Springtown from July 2 until July 13.

Bagwell, an acquaintance, stayed home to care for the girl while her mother worked July 9. He told a deputy and a state Child Protective Services investigator that the child was sick and threw up on the living room floor. She was also crying for her mother.

Bagwell is accused of pushing the girl down and rubbing her face in the vomit.

Bagwell told authorities that he took the girl to the bathroom to bathe her but that she continued to cry. He said he hit her on the neck to try to calm her down.

The girl’s father picked her up July 13, observed marks and bruises, and alerted officials.

Parker County sheriff’s deputies began investigating July 13 after receiving information from CPS about a possible abuse case in Springtown. According to a CPS report, the girl had a large abrasion on her cheek, a red mark on her neck and bruises on her hips.

Bagwell is expected to be charged with injury to a child with intentional bodily injury, a third-degree felony, according to the affidavit.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 9:36 AM with the headline "Springtown man accused of abusing toddler."