A Slatington man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 3-year-old boy with a spatula.

James Heck, 38, of the 100 block of Hillcrest Lane, was charged Monday with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, endangering the welfare of children and aggravated assault.Heck was arraigned Monday by Judge Michael Faulkner of Allentown, and sent to Lehigh County Jail under $150,000 bail.According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Andrew Miller of the Lehigh County District Attorney's office:The incident occurred on Aug. 4 involving the 3-year-old and Heck.The mother said she left her 3-year-old and another of her children, a 5-year-old, in the care of Heck while she went to work that evening.She said that the children were fine and not injured in any way, and that there was no other person with Heck and the kids when she left for work.When the mother returned home that evening,she wanted to check on her children, but Heck would not let her do so. The two had a confrontation until she was able to extricate her two children from the apartment with the help of their biological father.The father said he received a text from the mother asking him to come pick her and the kids up at the apartment because their son had some marks on him.The mother returned to the apartment after the children were safe with their father.On Aug. 5, the father took the children to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center - Cedar Crest, for an evaluation.As a result of the examination, the 3-year-old was found to have various bruises on his upper portion of his body, as well as some abrasions near the spine area, left parietal region, which was tender, and the nose area. Additional testing found evidence of sexual assault.A board certified pediatrician at the hospital determined the injuries sustained were consistent with objects found at the home and turned over to Detective Tim Wagner of the Slatington Police Department.Heck is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Tuesday at the Lehigh County Courthouse.