A Jeffersonville man is in the Fayette County Jail after he admitted to striking a child in the face.

Bruce W. Coy, 41, admitted to striking a child in the face after the child reportedly growled at him. Coy was ordered by the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas to serve 40 days in the Fayette County Jail for domestic violence.

Additional sentencing orders imposed Monday include a mandatory supervision period of two years under the Fayette Adult Probation Department and payment of $822 in court costs for prosecution in the case. If Coy violates the sentencing orders he could go to prison for a year-and-a-half.

According to reports, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was called to a domestic violence complaint at 71 N. Main Street Jan. 2.

Coy’s girlfriend told authorities that she had left the small child with Coy for a short time. When she returned she had noticed a red mark on the child’s face.

Coy told the officers that he had told the child to clean up his toys and the child growled at him.

Coy gave a written statement and said, “[I] tried to smack him on his lips lightly but he turned his head and I got him on the side of his face. I felt bad and immediately hugged him and held him and repeatedly told him I was sorry and I would never hurt him like that again.”

The mother took a photo of the injury to the child’s face. Reports said that upon looking at the photo, a deputy sheriff sergeant advised that it was more than a “little smack” to the child’s face and Coy said, “I know it was.”

Coy was arrested and booked into the Fayette County Jail.

His 40-day jail sentence was credited with seven days of time he already served on the charge.