Glenn Budgell, 33, was arrested in Nova Scotia in January. (RCMP photo)

The mother of a central Newfoundland man facing 16 charges, including seriously injuring a five-year-old boy, is speaking out.

The charges against Glenn Budgell, 33, include assaulting four children between the ages of three and 13 and uttering threats against a woman.

His mother, Gloria Budgell, says she can't believe the accusations against her son. Reached in Mississauga, Ont., she said nobody who knows him can believe what's being said.

CBC News has learned that Glenn Budgell pleaded guilty in December 2008 in Mississauga to uttering a threat. He received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation for 15 months. His mother said the conviction was for threatening a girlfriend.

In late January, police responded to a call at a house in Grand Falls-Windsor, central Newfoundland. They found a five-year-old boy who needed medical assistance and sent him to hospital.

His mother said Glenn Budgell is accused of burning the five-year-old boy's leg. Police won't confirm that but say the boy remains in hospital in St. John’s and his treatment and recovery will be lengthy.

Gloria Budgell said the children her son is accused of harming are now under the care of provincial social service officials. The police won't confirm that either.

After an investigation in January, Budgell was arrested in Nova Scotia and charged with three counts of assault and one count of child neglect, which included accusations involving the hospitalized boy and two other children.

Twelve additional charges were laid on Feb. 3:

• One count of uttering threats.
• Four counts of assault with a weapon.
• One count of aggravated assault.
• One count of assault.
• Five counts of breaching an Ontario probation order.

Budgell is scheduled to appear in court in Grand Falls-Windsor on Feb. 22.