A Texas man who head-butted an 8-year-old boy for not knowing the meaning of the word "organizing" received probation last week, the Wichita Falls Times Record News reports.
Michael Joseph Pratt, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of injury to a child.
According to court documents, Child Protective Services contacted Burkburnett police in February about the incident.
In March, authorities interviewed the boy, who said Pratt wanted him to clean his room by "organizing" and "sorting" it.
The boy said that when he told Pratt he didn't know what those words meant, the man slapped him in the face repeatedly while asking the boy what "organizing" meant.
Pratt then put the boy on the kitchen counter while continuing to ask him what the word meant. After the boy said he didn't know, Pratt slammed his head into the boy's nose, according to court records.
Pratt threatened to put soap in the boy's mouth and slapped him two more times, but stopped when he realized the boy's nose was bleeding.
The boy told authorities the head-butt hurt "very bad," and that Pratt helped him clean up the blood on his face and pajamas because it was "a lot."
Pratt was sentenced to 10 years' deferred adjudication probation and ordered to pay a $750 fine, the Times Record News reports. He faced up to 10 years in prison.
He will also be required to complete 160 hours of community service and an anger management class. As part of his probation, he is forbidden from contacting the victim.
