SAN ANTONIO — A 30-year-old man is facing charges of unlawful restraint and injury to a child after investigators allege he handcuffed his two children, aged 6 and 7, to their bunk beds during a weekend visit causing pain and visible injuries.

Deputies arrested David Gonzales on Saturday on one charge of injury to a child with intended bodily injury and one charge of unlawful restraint less than 17 years of age, according to Bexar County jail records.

According to an arrest affidavit, law enforcement was first called to Gonzales’ North Side home on Monday, Sep. 1, after the child’s mother reported the incident to authorities.

The affidavit states after returning from a weekend visit with her father, the 7-year-old child told her mother that Gonzales and her stepmother had handcuffed both of her hands to the bed. Investigators say the child complained of pain and redness was observed on her wrist.

Gonzales admitted to handcuffing his daughter after her mother confronted him over the phone, according to the affidavit. When she asked him why he did this, he reportedly got upset and hung up the phone.

The affidavit states both Gonzales and the child’s stepmother were detained for questioning, during which both denied handcuffing the child, however the stepmother admitted to owning a pair of handcuffs purchased from Spirit Halloween. Investigators say the stepmother admitted to handcuffing her 6-year-old child every night due to the child’s alleged mental health and behavioral issues.

Furthermore, the affidavit states two juveniles who live with the couple indicated she handcuffed both young children “for their safety.” During a search of the home, investigators found two sets of handcuffs on one child’s bed and an additional set along with a “ratchet strap” attached to the second child’s bed.

According to the affidavit, the children told investigators they were frequently restrained the whole night until morning time and made to eat hot chilis picked from an outside bush as punishment. The children also stated they were only allowed to eat once a day, hit with a belt, and given gummies that made them sleepy, according to the affidavit.

Jail records show Gonzales has since bonded out of jail on Sunday. No charges have been brought against the children’s stepmother at this time.

Check back for more updates on this developing story.