On Wednesday morning, the Hutchinson Police Department arrested Aron J. Pritchard, 27 years-old, based on an arrest warrant issued by the Reno County District Court. The arrest warrant was issued after formal charges were filed yesterday morning by Reno County District Attorney, Keith E. Schroeder.

The general nature of the charges involves allegations of criminal activity relating to a 3-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl. Aron Pritchard is alleged to have placed each child in a clothes dryer on November 28, 2006. The young girl was not injured. The young boy sustained second degree burns that were not treated by a physician until he was taken into police protective custody on December 6, 2006. The boy was allegedly being punished for urinating in his pants. Both children are currently in State custody. Pritchard is not related to the children.

An appearance bond was set in the amount of $750.00 with surety by a Judge of the District Court.

The formal charging document alleges one count of Abuse of a Child and another count of Aggravated Endangering a Child. Abuse of a Child is a severity level 5 person felony and carries a presumptive sentence ranging from 31-136 months in prison. Aggravated Endangering a Child is a severity level 9 person felony and carries a presumptive sentence ranging from 5-17 months in prison.