A Minnesota woman has been charged with felony child endangerment in connection with the alleged assault of a 10-year-old child.
Amber Lynn Raymond, 31, is also charged with gross misdemeanor counts of malicious punishment of a child and child neglect.
The case came to light on Feb. 1 when Maplewood police received a report of a video allegedly showing a man repeatedly punching the young girl, according to a criminal complaint.
The incident allegedly occurred at the home Raymond shared with her boyfriend, Basil Neil Woods, according to the complaint.
Police obtained a copy of the video, which allegedly showed Woods, 25, wearing a mask and lightweight boxing gloves that “do not appear to have a lot of padding,” entering a bedroom where the child was sleeping on the floor.
According to the complaint, Woods approached the girl and punched her in the area of her right shoulder. He allegedly punched her again with his left fist in the buttocks and then struck her again with his right fist in the right arm.
The complaint states that the child exclaimed, “No! Ow!”
Police said Woods could be heard yelling at the girl before he allegedly swung his right arm back and struck her again in the back of the head.
Woods allegedly punched the child again after she retreated to the back of the room and pulled a blanket over her head. He is also accused of striking her again while asking her if she “heard him,” according to the complaint.
Woods allegedly used a racial slur and made threatening, profane remarks during the incident, according to the complaint.
He allegedly hit the girl again on the left side of her ribs before leaving the room.
According to the complaint, investigators searched the home on Feb. 4, at which time Raymond was present and assisted officers in their search for the boxing gloves allegedly used during the assault.
The complaint describes the home as being in extreme disarray, with animal feces in multiple areas, urine visible on floor tiles, and dark wet stains on carpeted sections. It also states the home smelled of cigarettes, garbage, and fecal matter. The kitchen was described as having piles of dishes and decayed food, with a lock on the refrigerator door. Investigators also reported a ceiling leak in the kitchen with dirty water dripping into pots below, and several areas of the home containing piles of animal feces and used cat litter.
Police said there were around 15 cats, a small dog, and a turtle in a small tank with green water inside the home.
In an interview with investigators, Raymond allegedly acknowledged she was aware of the assault and said she was present and witnessed it, according to the complaint. She also allegedly said she asked Woods for help with the child and acknowledged she asked him to assault the girl and helped with the plan. Raymond reportedly claimed Woods did not assault the child to hurt her, and that the gloves were used because they were “playing around and boxing.”
Raymond is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 26. She has yet to enter a plea. Her attorney could not be reached for comment.
Woods was arrested on Feb. 3 and charged with gross misdemeanor malicious punishment of a child. A hearing date is scheduled for March 4. An attorney could not be reached for comment.
