Dover couple indicted after police, DCYF say they slapped 2-year-old

By JOHN QUINN
Union Leader Correspondent

Published Mar 20, 2013 at 1:02 pm (Updated Mar 20, 2013)

DOVER - A local couple could face prison time for allegedly slapping and hitting a 2 year-old girl for misbehaving last year.

Steven Smith, 25, of 149 Portland Ave., No. 11, was charged with second-degree assault and simple assault while his wife, Cheryll Smith, 23, also of 149 Portland Ave., No. 11, was charged with simple assault.

Steven Smith allegedly struck the child, who is not his daughter, on the back, which caused bruising, Nov. 26, and both Smith and his wife allegedly slapped her daughter in the face with their hands, which left red marks, between Nov. 1 and 26, according to the indictments.

During his December arraignment in Dover District Court, Steven Smith said the girl was staying with foster parents.

Police began investigating after an officer noticed the girl's forehead was "swollen and bruised" Nov. 26. She was held overnight in Wentworth-Douglass Hospital while members of the Division of Children, Youth and Families were notified, according to court records.

After interviewing the couple, investigators believe the girl sustained injuries due to "repeated spankings and lengthy timeouts" when the girl acted out over a two-week time span in November, according to court records.

Second-degree assault is a Class B felony which could result in a maximum of 10 to 30 years in prison and a $4,000 fine, while each count of simple assault is a Class A misdemeanor, which can yield up to 2 to 5 years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Both are scheduled to appear for arraignment in Strafford County Superior Court March 28 at 9 a.m.

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Bob Hawkins said:

We are a reflection of the living God. Sin was impregnated in to our DNA from an subordinate being/ angel underneath that God as a symptom of his vanity and a way to wage war against that God. Today, these two reflect an ongoing, unseen battle, in the mind for our souls. His lip apparatus / studs are indicative of the ego and pride that blind him to his sin. However, jail and poverty might create a ***** in the armor he has built up, and show him that not only is he not cool Thats what he presently believes), but perhaps he is a total looser.This could be painful. I am sure his experiences that led to this day are sad, punishing and most likely he experienced grave abuse as well. At first glance I would like to pimp slap him, but I have reached a little further into the matter.
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Bob Hawkins said:

And the young lady, excellent use of the eyeliner, it looks like you were on a bag of Ketamine when you put it on.
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Jess Davis said:

I feel horrible for this innocent little child. I have two daughters and could NEVER hurt them. I can't even give them a smack on their behinds because I'm afraid of hurting them as they're so little. I give them "time outs" and it IS VERY EFFECTIVE. You don't have to "hit" your kids to show them whose boss. Cheryl Smith- SHAME ON YOU for letting a "so called man" hit your 2yr old baby. I sure hope you smarten your *** up, get some parenting lessons, do some soul searching, SOMETHING.
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Dover couple indicted after police, DCYF say they slapped 2-year-old

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