Source: CVDaily Feed
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LOGAN — The preliminary hearing for one North Logan woman accused of child abuse has been rescheduled while a second woman pleaded guilty.

Bonnie Third and Cindy Bullock both appeared in 1st District Court Thursday afternoon.

The prosecutor told the court they were not ready to proceed with the preliminary hearing for 54-year-old Third, charged with child abuse, a second-degree felony. They asked for additional time so the child in the case could be summoned to testify.

Judge Thomas Willmore ordered the preliminary hearing to be continued until September 4.

Bullock then appeared and waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The 33-year-old accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to child abuse and no contest to a charge of retaliation against a witness.

Under the deal, both charges were reduced from second-degree felonies to class A misdemeanors.

Bullock will be sentenced September 22 and could face up to one-year in jail and a $2,500 fine for each charge.

Third and Bullock along with 33-year-old twin brothers Quinton James Smith and Merritt Smith are accused of spanking the child in a type of ritual called the “whipping tunnel.” In this type of punishment, the child was forced to crawl underneath the adults as they stood above him and spanked him with their hand or an object.

Prosecutors also said, after the child reported the spanking to a school teacher, Bullock and Merritt Smith placed him in a room without his toys and stuffed animals. He was kept from having contact with other people for an extended period of time.

The child was latter taken and placed under the care of Child and Family Services.

Merritt Smith has also already pleaded guilty to reduced charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

The preliminary hearing for Quinton Smith is scheduled for August 26.


will@cvradio.com