Queensbury man charged with felony assault over spanking of son

A father is facing a felony assault charge for allegedly spanking his 6-year-old son so hard he was taken to the emergency room, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jeffrey Lamphear, 39, of Queensbury, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of second-degree assault, deputies said.

Deputies said they and Child Protective Services were called last Monday, and were told the 6-year-old was struck several times on the buttocks on Saturday, leaving bruising and welts. The mother discovered the bruises when the boy was returned from his grandparents Sunday night, and she brought him to the emergency room.

Deputies said Lamphear told them he had spanked the boy as punishment, but may have done it harder than expected. They said a felony charge was filed because of the age difference between father and child.

Lamphear was released without bail and an order that he have no contact with the child.