Mom Branded Child's Bottom, Police Say

(Aug. 14) -- A California mother allegedly branded her young child by carving her first initial into the toddler's buttocks.

Sergaye Lafayette, 23, was arrested Aug. 10 on a number of outstanding warrants after being pulled over with her children in the car, KCRA News reported. She does not have custody of the youngsters.

The mark on her 15-month old daughter's bottom was discovered after her children were taken to a center for abused children. The kids were taken to a routine check-up where doctors discovered diaper rashes all over the baby as well as a letter "S" carved into her bottom. Doctors estimated the wound was a week old.

Lafayette's children had been in her care for nearly a month, after she took them during what was supposed to be their last supervised visitation before the children were adopted by foster parents, according to CBS13 News.

In an interview with CBS13, Lafayette claimed she never harmed her children and someone else must have abused her child.

Authorities said a sharp object must have been used to carve the letter, but they are unsure what it was. Lafayette is charged with felony child endangerment.

For more on the story, see coverage from KCRA News and CBS13.