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Man pleads not guilty in child abuse case
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — A man accused of strapping a toddler to a toilet seat pleaded not guilty to child endangering charges in Clark County Municipal court Monday, April 6.
Marcus A. January, 30, of 531 Chestnut Ave., was arrested Saturday on two charges each of child endangering and abduction.
He is accused of strapping a 2-year-old girl to a toilet and leaving her and a 5-year-old boy at home without supervision, according to court records.
Clark County Municipal Judge Thomas Trempe set bond at $50,000.
The mother of the children, Heather A. Flaker, 23, of 531 Chestnut Ave., was arrested last week on two counts of endangering children, obstructing official business and tampering with evidence.
Flaker also pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held in the Clark County Jail on $50,000 bond.
A relative of Flaker's called police Tuesday, March 31, after seeing Flaker's 5-year-old boy running in the street alone, according to police.
The relative took the boy back home, found the door open and Flaker's 2-year-old daughter strapped to the toilet, according to a police report.
Both children were bleeding and had multiple bruises and welts, and doctors who later examined the children said there was evidence of prior abuse, according to court records.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
