An Austin woman faces criminal charges for allegedly hitting her two young children and also lashing them with a belt.

Ann Francis Molina, 27, faces a felony count of malicious punishment of a child under the age of 4. She also faces a lesser malicious punishment charge, as well as two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault.

She is currently in Mower County custody and scheduled for arraignment Feb. 4.

According to a criminal complaint, Austin police were notified of the incident via a written report from Ellis Middle School on Jan. 22.

The report came from Molina’s cousin, 13, who said she witnessed Molina abusing her two small boys, ages 3 and 4.

The cousin said the most recent incidents she saw occurred on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16. On the first day, she said she saw Molina hit the children on several occasions. The next day, she said she saw Molina lash the 3-year-old with a belt.

During the alleged abuse, the cousin said Molina would turn music up loud so it was hard to hear the children crying.

Police spoke with the children at a residence. The 4-year-old, who displayed bruises on his back, said, “My mommy did it,” the complaint states. His younger brother, who had cuts on his chest from apparent belt lashings, also said Molina was responsible.

The 4-year-old said his mother was mad at him and his brother for not picking up toys. The children were taken to the Austin Medical Center for an evaluation and put into human services’ custody, the complaint states.

Molina told police that she has had problems controlling the boys’ behavior, but denied ever using physical violence against them.