Charles City woman accused of violently abusing a child pleads not guilty

CHARLES CITY — A Charles City woman accused of violently abusing a child has pleaded not guilty.

A criminal complaint states that 37-year-old Samantha Slaughter physically assaulted a child on February 13th in a home in the 300 block of 8th Avenue. Slaughter is accused of forcefully grabbing their face, force feeding them food, shaking and jerking their face and head, hitting them in their face with their own hands, forcing them to the floor by grabbing their neck, and slamming them to the floor.

The complaint says the minor sustained serious injuries to include facial bruising and swelling, retinal hemorrhages, as well as bleeding in the head and brain. Medical staff told law enforcement that the child’s long-term prognosis will likely include varying deficits, some of which appear to be permanent.

Slaughter was charged with child endangerment causing serious injury and willful injury causing serious injury, each a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Slaughter filed a written plea of not guilty on Monday in Floyd County District Court. Her trial is scheduled for May 13th.