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Last updated on Thursday, October 10, 2013
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Linton couple accused of causing multiple injuries to a child appeared in court and were both charged with numerous felonies.
29-year-old Michael Sean Liechty and 19-year-old Bonnie Rene Bambi Lynn Irvin were arrested last Friday and the child was taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to Linton police officers, the child suffered multiple injuries, allegedly sustained as a result of ongoing abuse over a period of weeks.
A babysitter reported the abuse.
The child had numerous severe bruises and red marks on his face, head, ears and all over his back. There were long scratches on both sides of his neck and he suffered a busted lip. There were also numerous bruises on his thigh and some were in various stages of healing.
The Department of Child Services was also contacted and is investigating.
According to police, Liechty and Irvin said the child has behavior problems and caused some of his own injuries.
But officers claim the couple are accused of holding the boy down while spraying him with cold water for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, grabbing the child's feet and pulling him down causing him to smack his face off the floor, blooding his nose, strangling the child, throwing the child against the walls with such force that the walls broke or it left holes in the wall and beating the child with a wooden object.
Leichty and Irvin have been charged with four felony counts of battery resulting in bodily injury to a victim less than 14 years old, neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent involving cruel confinement and neglect of a dependent depriving the child of medical attention. Irvin was also charged with strangulation.
Judge Dena Martin set the couples bond at $75,000 cash only in both cases.
Liechty told the judge he lives with Irvin and his child in Linton, was employed at Great Dane Trailers in Brazil and does not own real estate or a vehicle.
Deputy Public Defender James Riester was appointed to represent him.
Irvin told the judge she lives with her "ex-fiance" Liechty and his child in Linton, was not employed and has never been employed and has no income and does not own real estate or a vehicle. Irvin also told the judge she was pregnant.
Public Defender Alan Baughman was appointed to represent her.
Both defendants were ordered to have no contact with the child involved in the case.
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