CLARE COUNTY — Two Clare County residents face charges after a video showed a 2-year-old child being spanked and slammed into a wall.
Deputies arrested 25-year-old Justin Thomas Henke and 22-year-old Kristi Marie Thomas following a report of a suspected child abuse incident on Monday, May 18 at a residence in Redding Township.
The reporting party provided authorities with video footage of the incident.
Deputies reported they observed Henke screaming at the young child while spanking him more than a dozen times as the child screamed, cried and repeatedly said “no.” Henke was then reportedly seen slamming the child into a wall.
When deputies confronted Henke he denied hurting the child and claimed he was only disciplining him. Investigators later discovered Thomas the mother of the child was present during the incident and did nothing to stop Henke.
Both subjects were arraigned in the 80th District Court of Clare County and charged with one count of fourth-degree child abuse. Henke also faces a charge of probation violation stemming from the incident.
Henke’s bond was set at $50,000 cash or 10% and Thomas’ bond was set at $5,000 cash or 10%.
NOTE: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.