A Warsaw woman was arrested Tuesday on charges of battery to a person less than 14 years of age, a level 5 felony; and battery with moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony.
Stephanie L. Mikel, 26, of 6515 W. CR 550N, Warsaw, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail Tuesday afternoon and is being held on an $11,000 bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a Warsaw City Police officer met with a woman who had been babysitting for Stephanie Mikel’s children.
The babysitter told police she observed welts where the skin had been cut on the back and buttocks of one of the children. The babysitter showed the officer photographs of the child’s injuries where the skin had been broken in numerous areas across the child’s buttocks. At the request of the officer, the child was taken to Kosciusko County Hospital where her wounds were treated. A Child Protective Services Caseworker was also called to the hospital where she observed the injuries.
The officer spoke with Mikel who admitted she whipped the child with a belt on August 8, because she had wet her pants. She also admitted to whipping the girl later in the day because she would not eat her dinner.
The officer went to Mikel’s residence and obtained the belt used to whip the girl.
