Rock Hill man accused of burning woman with hot water

Police say a 69-year-old Rock Hill man assaulted a woman late Tuesday night by pouring hot water on her, causing skin to peel off on her neck and chest.

Joe McLeave was allegedly watching the news on television in the living room when the woman, 61, asked him to watch it in the bedroom, according to a police report. McLeave got angry and threw hot water on the woman, the report states.

When officers arrived at the couple’s home on Arnold Street, they could see “severe burns” on her neck and chest. McLeave was in the back of the house holding knives until officers told him to put them down.

The woman was taken to Piedmont Medical Center for treatment, and McLeave was charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, according to the report.

McLeave has a criminal history that includes convictions for assault and criminal domestic violence.

McLeave told officers he and the woman live together and are in a relationship.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Rock Hill man accused of burning woman with hot water."