A 25-year-old Fayetteville man accused of excessively spanking his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter when potty training her has been formally charged in the case.

Darrell Lewis Wheeler of 663 McClinton is charged by the Washington County Prosecutor’s office with seconddegree battery in connection with the June 14 incident.

Police arrested Wheeler last month after he admitted hitting the toddler 12 times while trying to potty train her.

According to the report, the victim’s mother called police after seeing bruises on her daughter’s body. She stated that the bruises were left by Wheeler, her live-in boyfriend, the previous day. Wheeler was reportedly baby-sitting the girl while her mother went to work.

The report revealed that the bruises covered the entire area of the both buttocks and both upper thighs of the victim.

Wheeler allegedly told police he was trying to potty train the victim. He said he started out with light pops on her bottom, but when she didn’t learn, he increased the force. He allegedly complained that his hand was stinging after he hit her. He denied using any instrument other than his hand.

Several Fayetteville Police Department investigators said the bruises were among the worst they had seen for a child of that age.