One of two sisters charged in a child endangerment case in which a 6-year-old child was allegedly spanked and slapped for having a bad day, will be sentenced on a lesser charge.
Jennifer R. McMahon, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing injury, a serious misdemeanor, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20.
Her sister, 27-year-old Jessica L. Burckel, pleaded not guilty to charges and waived her right to a speedy trial.
The two women were each charged with the Class D felony May 21, 2014 after the Newton Police Department was called to assist an Iowa Department of Human Services investigation at a Newton home.
The 6-year-old victim who was in their care sustained deep bruising on his buttocks and had very dark bruising on the right side of his face from being slapped, according to a court document.
When questioned by DHS, both women allegedly admitted to taking turns spanking him as punishment for having a bad day. While the spanking was occurring the child laughed at them which upset the women, according to a court document, and they then slapped him across the face causing the bruise.
Burckel is also scheduled to appear in court on May 20 for a pretrial conference.
Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-792-3121 est. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com