Woman charged with child abuse for allegedly forcing 3-year-old to eat feces as punishment

TEMPE, Ariz., May 20 (UPI) -- An Arizona woman was arrested Saturday on child abuse charges after she allegedly forced a 3-year-old girl to eat her own feces as punishment after she went to the bathroom in the bathtub.

Nicole Candelaria was booked into the Tempe City Jail on one count of child abuse after she allegedly held down her boyfriend's daughter and forced her to eat her own poop and then put soap in her mouth.

Candelaria was also in charge of watching the girl's siblings, ages 3 and 5.

The 27-year-old has denied the girl's accusations, but the 3-year-old's siblings have corroborated their sister's story.

During an examination, "bruising was observed on the girl's chest, back, sides and legs," CBS 5 reported.

According to Candelaria, the bruise on the girl's back occurred after she was playing with her and hit her too hard.