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Douglas Grazuties, 36, of Middle River, was found guilty of second-degree child abuse, two counts of second-degree assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment following a three-day jury trial in Harford County Circuit Court.
According to prosecutors, Child Protective Services was called to a home in Abingdon on Jan. 10, 2024, after receiving a safety concern regarding two minor children.
What they uncovered was a disturbing pattern of near-daily abuse at the hands of Grazuties.
One of the victims told investigators that Grazuties slapped them in the head, punched them in the face and chest, and tripped them when they tried to run, according to the Harford County State's Attorney's Office.
The child also said Grazuties had punched them in the face so hard that their nose bled—on their own 7th birthday.
The day CPS intervened, on Jan. 9, 2024, Grazuties allegedly forced a toy into one of the children’s mouths and shoved it in deeper while saying, "How does it feel to choke on something?" after he became angry that the child wasn’t watching their younger sibling closely enough.
The victim revealed that on January 8, 2024, Grazuties had struck them in the ear when they failed to answer a question, prosecutors said. During the interview with investigators, one child was still bleeding from their ear.
Medical exams confirmed the severity of their injuries.
One child was diagnosed with a perforated eardrum, which doctors warned could cause permanent hearing loss without treatment.
The second child also suffered eardrum damage consistent with abuse, according to doctors. Investigators also documented bruising and redness on both children’s faces and chests during their interviews.
Following the verdict, Grazuties was taken into custody at the Harford County Detention Center, where he will remain until his sentencing on May 22.
"Working with victims of child abuse is an incredibly challenging and sensitive area of the law," Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey said after the conviction.
"I commend these children for their bravery and honesty in coming forward and reliving their traumas, which ultimately led to the conviction in this case."
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