Man accused of using stun gun to punish kids

A 25-year-old Joshua Tree man is facing charges for allegedly using a stun gun to punish two children in his care.

Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were called to a home on the 62500 block of Golden Street in Joshua Tree on Saturday, shortly after noon, when the children’s parents called to report the suspected case of child abuse.

The parents reported Daniel Kitchens, their former roommate, for supposedly using a hand held stun gun on two of their sons, ages 5 and 9. The family is said to have six children ranging in age from 8 months to 11 years old. Kitchens had occasionally watched the children for short periods of time while living with the family.

The parents were unaware of the abuse at the time of the incidents, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The parents told police that their other four children had not been harmed by Kitchens. Authorities located and arrested Kitchens in 29 Palms. The stun gun was recovered.

He is currently being held on $100,000 bail in the Morongo Basin Jail.