On Wednesday, an Indianapolis man pleaded not guilty to six counts of felony child abuse for allegedly forcing his grandsons to hike the Grand Canyon in August with . Prosecutors say Christopher Carlson, 45, withheld water in , and pushed, choked and kicked his grandsons鈥攚ho were 12, 9, and 8 years old at the time鈥攄uring a 19-mile hike. A ranger saw the group hiking and gave the boys water after one of them exhibited signs of heat stroke. Investigators say the boys had cuts, bruises, blisters, and scars that supported their story. Carlson said the boys were overweight and that he thought hiking the Grand Canyon would get them into shape.
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