Police: 58-Year-Old Man Spanked 29-Year-Old Male Tenant's Bare Butt Over Late Rent Payments

Ron Kronenberger. (Dayton Daily News)

Police say a 53-year-old Ohio landlord whipped a 29-year-old tenant's bare butt with a belt because the tenant had fallen behind (pun intended) on his rent.

“Ron Kronenberger, 53, is charged with assault. He owns Hometown Market in Waynesville. The incident allegedly happened in the back office of the store last month,” an ABC affiliate in Ohio reports.

“Kronenberger is also a landlord. His tenant came in and didn't have the rent. So Kronenberger reportedly spanked him,” the report adds.

"I've known him for 30 years and this is totally out of character for him. He's a fine man," a friend of Kronenberger told the ABC affiliate.

The tenant owed $2,800 in back rent, according to Waynesville police.

"If you're going to act like a child I'm going to treat you like one,” Kronenberger allegedly told the 29-year-old man (we can't stress the tenant's age enough).

This is where it gets just really, really weird.

According to the report, "Mr. Kronenberger spanked the tenant four times on the rear with his belt. ... (The tenant) stated he was scared and just wanted to get it over with."

“The victim told police he complied with Kronenberger's demands and bent over, placing his hands on a chair,” the report adds.

Police say the spanking left “little marks on the unnamed tenant’s tush.

Again, for emphasis, they say it was a bare-butt spanking, so -- um? Huh.

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

“A former president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Kronenberger was named Waynesville's Citizen of the Year in 2006, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Well, this is all very, very strange.

Kronenberger is due in court today for the Jan. 22 incident.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

(H/T: Gawker). Featured image ABC 22.