GARNER, Iowa (AP) — An October sentencing has been scheduled for a northern Iowa man accused of using a belt to spank a 4-year-old child. Hancock County court records say 33-year-old Charles Pennington, of Mason City, pleaded guilty to child endangerment after making a deal with prosecutors. The agreement calls for a five-year prison sentence, but the deal isn’t binding on the judge. The sentencing is set for Oct. 26 in Garner.

A criminal complaint says an investigation began in March after officials were notified about severe bruising on the boy’s buttocks, lower back and upper legs. Other children in the household told Britt police the child was beaten with the belt for “getting in trouble.”