Man gets work release, probation in neglect case

0
295

GREENFIELD — A Greenfield man will serve a three-year sentence – splitting the time between work release and probation – after admitting he neglected four children, officials said.

Christopher Smith, 32, accepted an agreement from in which he pleaded guilty to a Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent.

The deal called for Smith to serve 18 months on work release followed by 18 months of probation, prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, the case against Smith’s co-defendant has been set for trial, prosecutors said. They intend to call a jury of weigh evidence against 29-year-old Chantelle Oliver, who faces similar allegations, later this month, records show.

Smith and Oliver were arrested in April after the Indiana Department of Child Services child abuse hotline received several anonymous calls about the couple’s conduct.

The callers said Smith was verbally and physically abusive with the four children who lived with him, and often punched and slapped them and pulled their hair, court documents state.

Oliver witnesses Smith’s abusive behavior and does nothing to stop him, the callers reported, according to court documents.

State caseworkers began investigating and brought the children to Hancock Regional Hospital for examinations, where the children disclosed an array of physical, emotional and verbal abuse, according to court documents.

Smith and Oliver were at the hospital during the interviews and were visibly angered by the situation, officials said.

Doctors and nurses wrote in their reports that they were afraid to allow the children to return home with the couple, particularly the oldest, teenage victim, court documents show.

“Consideration was given to admitting (the teen), who seemed at most risk, but … the hospital stay would be very temporary,” a doctor noted in a patient report obtained by police. “I hesitate to make her more of a focus of (Smith’s) anger.”

Smith was charged with: one Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury; one Level 5 felony count of obstruction of justice; one Level 6 felony count of intimidation; three Level 6 felony counts of domestic battery on a person less 14 years old; one Level 6 felony count of domestic battery resulting in moderate injury; and one Class A misdemeanor of intimidation.

He pleaded guilty to the lead count in exchange for the other charges being dropped, officials said.

Oliver faces one Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury; one Level 5 felony count of obstruction of justice; one Level 6 felony count of intimidation; and one Class A misdemeanor of intimidation.

Her case is set for trial in Hancock Circuit Court on Aug. 28. She remains in custody at the Hancock County Jail, records show.