Phoenix woman accused of scalding 2-year-old stepson's hand

PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix woman is facing a child abuse charge after her 2-year-old stepson had one of his hands scalded with hot water.

Phoenix police say 26-year-old Sarah Krystal Alaniz was arrested Monday. She didn't have an attorney at her initial court appearance.

Police accuse Alaniz of placing the boy's hand under scalding water, causing severe blistering and deep partial tissue burns on Aug. 15.

The boy's father took him to a hospital when he saw the blisters and Alaniz was later interviewed by police.

Alaniz allegedly told police her stepson might have been burned by an electrical outlet or by turning on the hot water himself. Later, she told police it was an accident and she didn't realize how hot the water was when he was cleaning the child's hand.