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Bedford Woman Facing Child Neglect Charges Pleads Not Guilty

Last updated on Tuesday, March 13, 2018

(BEDFORD) - A Bedford woman was arrested on a warrant Thursday charging her with injuring her 7-week-old baby.

Bedford Police arrested 24-year-old Cassandra Longest, of 1718 14th St., on a felony count of child neglect resulting in serious bodily injury. The Court entered a plea of not guilty this morning. She was appointed a public defender to represent her. A pretrial hearing is set for April 18, 2018.

According to a Lawrence Superior Court 1 probably cause affidavit, on April 14, 2017 Bedford Police officers were called to St. Vincent Dunn Hospital after a baby was brought to the hospital with bruising and swelling to the head, multiple skull fractures and rib fractures.

The baby was airlifted to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where medical staff determined the injuries occurred during two separate incidents.

Longest told Bedford Police, she had left her baby in the care of her live-in boyfriend multiple times between April 11 and April 14, 2017 while she was at work.

Longest told police that on April 11, her boyfriend texted her saying he had almost dropped the baby. Longest told police she noticed a bruise on the child's face, which her boyfriend told her was from catching the baby by the head.

Police say Longest nor the boyfriend took the baby for medical treatment.

Longest then told police that on April 14, 2017 she had attempted to enter the baby's room and found it locked. She told police she eventually got into the room and noticed more bruises and swelling on the baby's face. The boyfriend asked Longest not to take the child for treatment.

According to the affidavit, Longest told police she allowed the man to care for the child even though she knew he was taking drugs at the time.

Longest was booked into the Lawrence County jail. Her bond is set at $50,000 surety and $5,005 cash. The man has not been arrested on neglected-related charges.

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