How Dwight Howard Gets Cleared Of Child Abuse But Doctor Notes Belt Marks On His Son's Body

Even though Dwight Howard has been cleared of child abuse in Florida, it is evident that his 6-year-old son, Braylon, had been hit by a belt buckle with excessive force when the case went up to court. Howard admitted that he had used force to discipline his child, but never realized that it was "wrong," because he too had been brought up in a similar manner.

Documents from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has recorded that Doctor Kesler, who examined Braylon, had summarized in his report that the child had "a linear bruise and patterned abrasions consistent with the history given by Braylon of being struck with a belt numerous times by his father," according to TMZ. The whippings had caused bruises and abrasions in the soft tissue.

As the injuries stayed for more than 24 hours, they matched the "medical diagnosis of physical abuse." The doctor had prescribed that Howard should visit parenting counsellors and discipline his child through various modern techniques, not corporal punishment. But strangely, the doctor's findings and recommendations had not been enough for DCF to punish Dwight of child abuse. The department felt that the allegations were "not substantiated."

The ruling is in sync with a Florida law that refuses to punish lack of "credible evidence" of child abuse that is not strong enough. In fact, due to "insufficient evidence of child abuse," the case is no longer even open in Florida, said Howard's rep. However, it is clear that at least now they do acknowledge that there has been "some evidence" of child abuse, though they feel that it is "not sufficient."

The case had been taken to court by the child's mother and Dwight's ex-girlfriend, Royce Reed. She had gone to the Children's Services in Orlando three months ago, charging Dwight of severely whipping their son. But Howard's representatives had also hit out at Royce Reed for using her son "as a pawn" against her father in order to "extract money." Earlier, Howard had said that she was an unfit mother who used to feed her son psychotropic drugs.

Both parents are trying to get custody of the child, but in the battle Dwight Howard looks more powerful and famous, though more culpable of child abuse. Meanwhile, Royce Reed had put up a post in Instagram, swearing that she will not stop fighting. Clear that the case against Howard is not over, she explains that though the reps have been trying to slander her, they should just understand that she could not be "played with" when her son was involved.