WilCo: Day care provider injured boy

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS (KXAN) - A Round Rock home day care provider is accused of intentionally hurting a child in his care by putting the boy's hands in scalding water. Police arrested Scott Patrick Hudson, 35, on Wednesday. He is being charged with injury to a child, causing serious bodily injury.

The boy he allegedly injured was 3 years old and is currently in stable condition at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Police said that on Oct. 27, Hudson put the toddler's hands in into water over the temperature of 140 degrees for long enough for the water to badly burn the child.

Lonny and Amy Smith came close to letting their neighbors across the street watch 3-year-old Isabella.

"I'm shaking; I vomited,” said Lonny Smith. “My initial reaction was to rip this guys head off, maybe stick his hands in some boiling water and let him see what it feels like."

The Smiths said a few months ago Scott Hudson and his wife started an in-home day care with as many as eight young children each day. Investigators said they did this without a license.

“There’s a lot of people that watch children in their homes," said Sergeant John Foster, Williamson County Sheriff's Office. "They have to go through the proper procedures in order to do that."

On Tuesday, the 3-year-old victim was taken to Dell Children's Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns on both of his hands and wrists. Investigators would not say who took the boy to the hospital.

"Mr. Hudson admitted to doing this,” said Foster. “He is in Williamson County Jail. Child Protective Services has been contacted regarding this.”

According to investigators, Hudson was supposed to be watching the child at the time. When police interviewed Hudson they say he admitted "to intentionally and knowingly forcing the child's hands into hot water from the bathroom sink faucet," according to police paperwork.

Hudson's bond is set at $80,000. If convicted, Hudson faces between five and 99 years in prison.