Parents accused of assault with extension cord
Yuma deputies have arrested a Foothills couple for allegedly beating their 15-year-old daughter with an extension cord.
Laron Hinton, 41, and Maria Fortner, 42, both of Yuma, were booked into the Yuma County jail on charges of aggravated assault and child abuse.
Capt. Eben Bratcher, a spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, said that at about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, YCSO received a call of an aggravated assault/child abuse at a Foothills residence.
Bratcher said that a 15-year-old girl had gone to a neighbor's house for help. The girl had sustained numerous welts, contusions and lacerations across her body allegedly after being struck repeatedly by an extension cord.
“The issue here is the extent of the injuries she sustained. This crossed the line as discipline. It was a beating,” Bratcher said. “She had been hit up and down her legs, and across her back and arms, to the point it drew blood.”
Bratcher said it is not known at this time if this was an isolated incident or if there had been a pattern of abuse.
Hinton and Fortner made their initial appearances in Yuma Justice Court on Wednesday afternoon. Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart set each of their bonds at $150,000.
Stewart set their next court date for 1 p.m. Friday in Yuma Justice Court, at which time they would be told if any charges had been filed against them.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.
