MARION COUNTY — Three Wamac children under the age of 12 were taken to the hospital last week after their mother’s 36-year-old boyfriend allegedly choked and slapped them.

Wamac police arrested Justin Clegg Monday on three counts of child endangerment and aggravated domestic battery.

He was taken to the Marion County Jail and was formally charged Wednesday in Marion County Court with two Class 2 felonies for aggravated domestic battery involving strangling, Class 3 felony aggravated battery to a child under the age of 13 resulting in bodily harm, and two Class 4 felonies for domestic battery with at least one previous conviction.

Judge Mark Stedelin denied the prosecution petition to detain Clegg and ordered him released from jail under special conditions. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for May 7.

According to reports, the children’s mother told them to wake Clegg at which time he began choking and slapping the 6 and 8-year-old girls and the 11-year-old boy.

Their mother reportedly took them to the hospital.