ELK CO. Pa. (EYT) — A St. Marys woman is accused of burning a three-year-old boy with chemicals, putting him on a dog leash, and placing him in a dog cage.
According to court documents, the St. Marys City Police Department filed criminal charges against 38-year-old Arwen Anastasia Kuhn, of St. Marys.
She was arraigned at 2:30 p.m. on August 17 in District Judge Mark Jacob’s office on the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault — Victim Less Than 13 and Defendant 18 or older, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault — Victim Less Than 6 and Defendant 18 or older, Felony 2
– Unlawful Restraint of Minor/Not Parent — Risk of Bodily Injury, Felony 2
– False Imprisonment of Minor/Not Parent, Felony 2
– Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
– Terroristic Threats W/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
She is free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, with Judge Jacob presiding.
According to an article published in the courierexpress.com, Penn Highlands Elk called the St. Marys City Police Department concerning an incident of child abuse.
During an interview with police, the child’s father stated that he dropped the child off at Kuhn’s residence on October 31, 2016, and picked him up on November 2, 2016. There was a bandage around his son’s stomach; when he removed it, there was a scab around the boy’s belly button. Bruises were also observed on his head.
Nurses at Penn Highlands Elk told the father the scab was consistent with a chemical burn. Nurses also saw bruises on the boy’s leg, back, and forehead, and scabs on his foot.
The child was sent to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, and it was confirmed that he had chemical burns around his belly button and on his feet. His eyes were also red and hurt in the light.
At a November 8, 2016 forensic interview, the toddler said Kuhn had hurt him by dropping him on his stomach and spraying peroxide in his eyes.
Kuhn also took videos of some of the abuse, which showed her yelling at the boy, grabbing him, and making him run 20 laps while he was on the ground crying.
Kuhn allegedly put him on a leash to keep him from getting candy.
It is alleged that she also put him in a dog cage.
