Police have charged a North Platte woman with misdemeanor child abuse after she allegedly spanked her child multiple times, in an unlawful manner.
At around 9:30 a.m., on October 4, officers with the North Platte Platte Police Department responded to the report of possible child abuse in the 1100 block of West 10th Street.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, the complainant alleged that 30-year-old Stephanie Gutherless has assaulted an 8-year-old female.
It was alleged that Gutherless pushed the child down and spanked her multiple times.
Brown said the manner of punishment was “inconsistent with corporal punishment.”
According to Nebraska law:
It is abuse to knowingly, intentionally, or negligently cause or permit a child to be cruelly punished.
§ 28-710. [Criminal Code] Parent/guardian/person responsible for care and supervision/person acting at one of the above’s request is justified to use force on a minor if for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of minor, including prevention or punishment of misconduct, but not designed to cause or known to create a substantial risk of causing death, serious bodily harm, disfigurement, extreme pain, mental distress, or gross degradation.
§ 28-1413. [Criminal Code] If the belief that the force is necessary is a reckless or negligent belief, than the above offers no defense to a crime, if the culpability of that crime is proven by showing recklessness or negligence. Justification is not available if person recklessly or negligently injured or created a substantial risk of injury to a person.
§ 28-1414. [Criminal Code]
Additional witnesses told officers that Gutherless had been up for hours and appeared to be very emotional.
Officers believed that, based on their observations, Gutherless was under the influence of methamphetamine.
Following futher investigation, it was determined that probable cause existed to charge Gutherless with child abuse.
She was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.
Police did not comment on the whereabouts of the child.