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Babysitter arrested after children are beaten with belts, 1 suffers broken back, police say

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio babysitter was arrested after children under her care were found badly injured, police said.

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The children's grandmother left the three children in the care of a family friend, Destinie Preston, on June 27 and, when she picked them up June 30, they were covered in bruises, WCMH reported.

The children -- ages 1, 2, and 4 -- were taken to a hospital. The 1-year-old had fractures on her back, WCMH reported. The 2-year-old had welts and bruises on his arms, back and face. An examination indicated the bruises on the 4-year-old were caused by a belt.

"The sight of their bodies and his head -- they're 2 and 4," their grandmother told WCMH. "What can possess you to beat on a 2-and 4-year-old?"

Preston was involved in a similar incident in May 2018, WCMH reported. In that incident, Preston let a 2-year-old play outside for two hours unsupervised with other children. The toddler suffered fractures to his spine as well as bruising and swelling, WCMH reported. Charges were filed, but an arrest warrant was never served, WCMH reported.

Preston was arrested and charged with assault and endangering children, according to jail records.