A Burlington woman has been charged with child abuse after choking her boyfriend’s 6-year-old son.

The woman told police she asked another child to wake up the 6-year-old. When she came upstairs she allegedly witnessed the 6-year-old choking the other child.

She told police the 6-year-old had previously been choked by a neighbor boy a few months ago.  She asked if he remembered how it felt to be choked.  The woman then grabbed him by the throat and asked him how he liked it.

She said she didn’t do it hard, but accidentally scratched him on the neck.

The woman said she heard him screaming that he now remembered how it felt to be choked.

She said the 6-year-old had violent outbursts and suffers from bipolar disorder and severe anxiety.

The 6-year-old told police she choked him twice and said “it better hurt.”

The boy said this had not happened before.

The father told police that he was not concerned for the safety of his children that she usually just sends the children to their room for discipline.

She is charged with strangulation and physical abuse of a child and could face up to six years in prison.