Smith woman charged with child endangerment, assault
A Smith Township woman was charged Monday by township police with endangering the welfare of children and simple assault after she allegedly punched her stepgranddaughter in the sternum during a confrontation at their Joffre home.
Claudette M. Cowden, 54, of 16 Shinhill St., was charged after police said they determined she was the primary aggressor in the confrontation between the two on Friday in a bedroom at the home. Cowden had gone to the police department to report that she was assaulted by the 12-year-old girl.
When the girl came home from school, Cowden reportedly confronted her about some items that were missing. She told police the girl started hitting her and pushed her to the couch.
The girl was brought to the police station by her mother and grandfather, who is Cowden’s husband. She told police that when she came home from school, she had gone to Cowden’s bedroom and started brushing her hair. The girl said Cowden started screaming at her and accused her of stealing items, police said.
The girl’s grandfather reportedly told her to leave the room. As the girl started to leave, Cowden allegedly stopped her, pushed her and punched her. The girl told police that she pushed back, and Cowden landed on a couch. Police said there apparently was additional pushing and shoving between Cowden and the girl.
The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka. Cowden is scheduled for a June 29 preliminary hearing before Havelka.