Police say 19-year-old Yenci Elizabeth Lopez was the long-term care giver of the boy and put him into a hot bath for several minutes, leaving him unattended despite his screams.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Hempstead, and authorities say Lopez then dressed the boy and took him to a birthday party without providing any care.
Others at the party noticed the injuries, and the child was transported to a local burn unit for treatment of second-degree burns that covered more than 20% of his body.
Lopez, who is the child's aunt, was taken into custody without incident around 6:30 p.m.
She is charged with reckless assault of a child by a child daycare provider, second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
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