Warsaw Woman, Boyfriend Face Charges In Spanking Incident
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A Warsaw woman was arrested Thursday morning after police allege she helped cover up child abuse. Stephanie Mikel, 26, of 2854 S. Country Club Drive, is facing felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, assisting a criminal and misdemeanor charges of false informing and failure to report child abuse. The charges result from an August investigation into child abuse. Heather Mikel was babysitting her sister’s children when she noticed broken skin on the toddler’s bottom. Heather sent a text to her sister. saying that what she found is not OK. Stephanie responded via text, “I will take care of it and make sure that (expletive) doesn’t happen again.” Heather went to the police who began the investigation. The toddler was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment for her injuries. Police interviewed the victim’s sibling, who told police Stephanie’s boyfriend, Devan Bounds, 23, had spanked the 2-year-old for peeing her pants, according to court records. During the investigation, Stephanie told police she had spanked the girl. Police arrested her for battery, according to court records. During a hearing, Stephanie told a Child Protective Services worker that Bounds had spanked the girl, but she admitted to the crime because she was afraid of Bounds, according to court records. Police obtained a warrant for Stephanie’s phone and downloaded her text messages. The text messages indicated that Stephanie was at work and Bounds was babysitting during the time the child was spanked, according to court records. In the messages, Bounds told Stephanie the toddler had wet herself and warned Stephanie not to tell anyone he spanked her. The charges against Stephanie were dropped Aug. 16 and Bounds was arrested. Bounds pleaded guilty to Feb. 9 to one count of battery on a person under 14 years of age, and one count of obstruction of justice. On the day Bounds entered his guilty plea, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton obtained a warrant for Stephanie’s arrest on the neglect, assisting, false informing and failure to report charges. In exchange for Bounds’ guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop two additional charges of battery against Bounds. Family of members of the child sent a letter to Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge David Cates urging him to reject the plea agreement. The toddler still has nightmares and Bounds should be “locked up where he can never hurt anyone again,” they wrote. Under Indiana law, judges can reject a plea agreement if they feel it’s not fair to the defendant or society. Bounds is scheduled to be sentenced on the charges at 11 a.m. March 30. The plea agreement sets no limit on the sentencing. Bounds faces six months to 8-1/2 years in prison.
