Anthony Michael Robert Johnson, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged on Tuesday in Mower County District Court with felony domestic assault and felony malicious punishment of a child-subsequent offense.

According to court documents, deputies were called at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday to a residence in LeRoy. They made contact with a woman who said she and her 4-year-old child had been with Johnson at her residence. She said she was in her bedroom with the child when Johnson came in and grabbed the child. The child tapped him on the face and Johnson allegedly said, “Don’t slap me, you can’t slap me.” She alleged that Johnson then slapped the child across the face, causing her great pain and significant redness.

She then left the residence with the child and called law enforcement.

She put a cold washcloth on the child’s face to reduce the swelling, but the marks could still be observed on the child’s face an hour after the incident, according to court documents.

Johnson allegedly told law enforcement, “I barely tapped her, (the victim) hit me harder than I tapped her.”

A review of Johnson’s criminal record shows prior convictions for assault. He is currently awaiting sentencing for felony violating a domestic abuse no contact order.

Johnson will appear in court again on June 28.