Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Custodial dad, stepmom accused of abusing 10-year-old daughter (Modesto, California)

Custodial dad STEVEN MICHAEL ANDREWS and the stepmother both face assault and child endangerment charges in the abuse of the father's 10-year-old daughter. The girl not only had recent burns and bruises, but older injuries suggesting ongoing abuse. The girl and her siblings have both removed from the home and are in the care of CPS. Note that there is NO MENTION of this girl's mother. Is she alive, dead, ill? Outflanked by an abuser in family court? No explanation here as to how this child ended up in this horrible home.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80309&catid=2

Modesto step-mother, father accused of child abuse
C. Johnson Last updated 13 hrs ago

MODESTO, CA - The detective handling the case of a 10-year-old Modesto girl who was allegedly abused at the hands of her step-mother and father says the child is doing much better.

Det. Marta Delgado said the girl and her siblings were removed from the home of Steven Michael Andrews, 28, and Jessica Nicole Leyva, 23, during of the course of the investigation which began April 4. That is when Modesto police were called to the residence to investigate a report of child abuse.

According to police, the 10-year-old not only had recent burn marks and bruises but older injuries suggesting ongoing abuse. She has been treated at a local hospital for her injuries, say police.

Andrews and Leyva were booked into Stanislaus County Jail Sunday and were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. Leyva faces accusations of torture, assault on a child causing great bodily injury and child endangerment. Andrews was booked on assault on a child causing great bodily injury and child endangerment.

The 10-year-old and her siblings are now in the care of Child Protective Services, according to Delgado.

News10/KXTV