MIAMI -- A father accused of child abuse for using a belt to discipline his 8-year-old is now cautioning other parents to stay away from the belt.

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Prosecutors have lowered but not dismissed charges against Loscar Rodriguez, who has an arraignment hearing on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is now facing a third-degree felony charge, rather than second-degree felony child abuse. If convicted, Rodriguez could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Rodriguez insisted on Monday that the belt-whipping was not child abuse, but discipline.

"I've been put out to be this monsterous father that I'm not," he said.

Rodriguez said his son got bad grades at Carver Elementary School, lied to him about the bad grades and did not bring home notes from his teachers.

Rodriguez said he tried cutting off TV time and video games as punishment, but finally he whipped the boy.

He was arrested and charged with child abuse and aggravated assault.

"Stay away from the belt. It's not worth it," Rodriguez said at a news conference on Monday.

His lawyer complained that the law banning acts that could reasonably be expected to result in injury to a child is vague.

"Whether a child bruises easily or not could be the difference between being arrested and being considered a good disciplining parent," said attorney Mark Eiglarsh.

Even the bond court judge seemed confused by the charge.

"A welt from a belt... it's supposed to leave a mark so you remember to get your work done," the judge said.

But the arrest report described bruises on the boy's left leg and over the entire buttocks. One source who has seen the photos told NBC 6 that they're powerful evidence of abuse, not a close call.

Rodriguez's lawyer steered away from specifics when asked about the punishment. However, his client said that different cultures see discipline differently.

"As a Hispanic, we, in my family, we are tough like that," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez's mother said she hit him with a belt when he misbehaved as a child in Nicaragua.

"I understood growing up that there was a reason for that and she doesn't hate me," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez hasn't been allowed to see his son since he was arrested, but he addressed the boy during the news conference.

"If I'm tough, it's because I want the best for you, and I love you very much," Rodriguez said. "He knows that."

Rodriguez said he expects to visit his son Wednesday. The boy has been living with his mother's parents.