TROY (AP) - An eastern Missouri man is accused of felony child abuse after police say he burned his girlfriend's 6-year-old daughter with a nightlight bulb.
Prosecutors in Lincoln County have charged 33-year-old Michael Gilbert of Elsberry with felony abuse or neglect of a child.
He's free on $7,500 bond.
Authorities allege that after seeing the girl hold a piece of paper over a nightlight in an attempt to ignite it, Gilbert unplugged the light and touched the bulb to the girl's leg.
Police say Gilbert insisted he did that to show the girl that things get hot, unaware the bulb would leave her with second-degree burns.
Online court records do not show whether Gilbert has an attorney to publicly discuss the case.