Man charged in assault on disabled twin teenagers

Published 1:30 am Saturday, April 29, 2017

MONROE — A Monroe man has been charged with assaulting 13-year-old twin sisters with a wooden paddle.

The girls have developmental disabilities. One of the assaults left one sister with severe bruising, according to court papers. Braxton Brand lived in the same apartment complex as the girls. He also is under investigation for assaulting other children, who lived with him.

Brand, 45, was charged earlier this week with third- and fourth-degree assault for the allegations involving the twins. He was being held on $100,000.

Police were told Brand made the plywood paddle and even repaired it after it broke during a beating. The paddle, about 2 feet long and 5 inches wide, reportedly bore the names of children who had been hit with it.

Three other people were arrested in connection with the case. Police were told the adults used the paddle on children, as young as 2.

The investigation is ongoing.