DETROIT -- A Michigan father is facing jail time, accused of violating a court order against spanking his 11-year-old son.

Wayne County family court judge Arthur Lombard issued a no-spanking order in September for Charles Koontz.

Koontz said he knowingly violated the order in December when he spanked his son because he was following his Baptist religion, and did not hurt his son.

“I was conflicted by the court’s order, and my conviction,” Koontz told the judge Wednesday. “The Bible teaches that if I love my son, then I give him corporal correction for discipline.”

Lombard said Koontz's son is not of spanking age.

Letters have been sent out to downriver Baptist churches to show support for Koontz. A crowd showed up to the court hearing Wednesday, and several were turned away because there wasn't enough room.

Koontz and his son's mother, Krystyna Ebinger-Gil, were never married.

Outside the courtroom, Ebinger-Gil said the boy's father is making the situation a cause.

“He was used to promote religious and political aspirations,” she said.

Koontz said Ebinger-Gil's father, the 11-year-old's grandfather, has molested the boy.

Ebinger-Gil denies the allegations but confirms that an investigation is under way.

Lombard assigned a Guardian Ad Litem, who will look into the case as a whole and present a report to the court.

Ebinger-Gil continues to have custody of the boy while the court told his father he can still have visitations.

Because of his violation of the court order, Lombard ruled Koontz must pay for the guardian and attorney fees for Ebinger-Gil.

Source: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22151898/detail.html