A 35-year-old Bellevue woman was arrested last Thursday on a felony injury-to-a-child charge for allegedly beating her 13- and 8-year-old daughters to the point that both of them bled, the older girl from her nose and the younger child from her left ear.
The older girl was transported by Wood River Fire & Rescue ambulance to St. Luke’s Wood River where she underwent a CAT scan to determine the extent of her injuries. Results were not available this week and could determine whether the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office pursues the case as a felony or a misdemeanor.
Prosecuting Attorney Jim Thomas amended the initial police charge of a felony and filed two misdemeanor injury-to-a-child charges instead on Friday against the mother, Cori A. Schiermeier, but stated Monday that a felony charge is still a possibility.
“I am awaiting the release of medical records to determine if the injuries sustained by the beating meet the standard of an injury ‘likely to cause great bodily harm or death’ and/or whether ‘unjustifiable physical pain was inflicted,’ which is required for a felony injury to child,” Thomas stated in an email to the Idaho Mountain Express wherein he quoted provisions of Idaho law. “I should have those records as well as additional investigative records this week in order to re-examine the case.”
Schiermeier, who was released from the Blaine County jail on Friday after posting $2,500 bond, was arraigned on two misdemeanor charges Monday in Blaine County Magistrate Court. She pleaded not guilty. She is represented by Ketchum attorney Andrew Parnes.
A no-contact order was issued that she not to be within 300 feet of her daughters and a 3-year-old son unless a counselor is present. According to court records, the children are now staying with relatives in Twin Falls County.
The case was investigated by the Bellevue Marshal’s Office with the assistance of the Hailey Police Department.
Bellevue Deputy Kyle Skuza wrote in a probable-cause affidavit that officers went to the Schiermeier residence on Sunrise Ranch Road around 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, on a report that the 13-year-old girl was injured. Skuza wrote that the girl had a swollen face and was bleeding from the nose and told officers that her mother had struck her multiple times in the face.
Skuza wrote that during the investigation, the 8-year-old girl, who was bleeding from the left ear, told officers that her mother had “slapped her in the head approximately 10 times.”
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Cori A. Schiermeier
