Grandmother charged with battery for punishing child with switch

Toussaint
Toussaint

A Hot Springs woman was charged with battery Monday after allegedly punishing her grandchild with a switch, causing multiple lacerations.

Norma Jean Toussaint, 70, of 124 Dawer St., was taken into custody at her residence at 12:30 p.m. and charged with second-degree domestic battery, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. She remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of zero bond and is set to appear July 12 in Garland County District Court.

According to the affidavit, Hot Springs police Officer Randy Rogers responded to the Dawer Street residence and made contact with the 12-year-old grandchild.

She reportedly told him that Toussaint, her grandmother and guardian, became angry after she did not throw away food as Toussaint directed her to do.

Toussaint allegedly hit her grandchild multiple times on the left arm with a switch taken from a bush in the front yard, leaving visible whelps and breaking the skin. The injuries were not bleeding at the time of Rogers' arrival.

Toussaint stated her granddaughter was "talking back to her" and would not stop, so she punished her.

She and a witness at the scene reportedly corroborated the victim's statements.

Local on 06/29/2016

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