GAINESVILLE - Two Gainesville residents are charged with causing severe mental and physical pain to a child, including deprivation of food and biting the child’s fingers.

William Joe Sewell Jr., 36, and Stacy Carol Hicks, 33, were charged in a Dec. 15 indictment with first-degree cruelty to children for alleged acts against a child in 2013 and 2014.

Multiple attempts to reach Sewell and Hicks for comment were unsuccessful.

Sewell faces three separate counts, alleging he caused “cruel and excessive physical and mental pain by requiring (the child) to eat (the child’s) own feces,” according to the indictment.

From May 2013 through August 2013, Hicks is accused of depriving the child of food.

In the third and fourth count of the indictment, Sewell is charged with “striking and kicking” the child, as well as biting the child’s fingers.

The age of the child and the reporting party are details that were not released.