September 23, 2009, 4:00 PM CDT

The mother of a boy who was allegedly beaten by his father while they were living in Jasper was awarded joint custody of the child.

Although previous coverage of the case has said the boy was 5 years old, officials at the custody hearing Wednesday in Jasper said he is actually 4.

The child's father, John Cornelius, 24, is accused of so severely beating the boy that the child coughed up blood, according to Jasper County authorities. Cornelius, who has been charged with injury to a child, has said he is innocent.