Woman charged with child endangerment free on bond

Woman charged with child endangerment free on bond

By Cynthia Beaudette of the Muscatine Journal

MUSCATINE, Iowa — A Muscatine woman charged with child endangerment was released from the Muscatine County Jail Monday evening after a $10,000 cash bond was posted for her release.

According to a Muscatine County Jail official, Melanie Leathers Addington, 29, of Muscatine, was released from jail after her bond was posted and she is free until her preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the Muscatine County Court.

According to documents filed at the Muscatine County Courthouse, Leathers Addington allegedly shook and slammed 2-month-old Tyler Addington causing permanent brain injury. According to court records, Leathers Addington was in the process of adopting the baby.

Roger Munns, a spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Human Services, said the baby was not being adopted through an Iowa agency. The baby was being adopted through a private adoption arranged through the state of Indiana, he said.

The baby was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Sunday, Sept. 5, where, according a Sept. 8 press release from the Muscatine County Attorney’s office, it was listed in critical condition. Due to federal privacy laws, hospital officials would not release further information about the infant. Hospital officials said Tuesday that no information is available about the baby.

“This is quite a tragedy for this family,” said Munns. “We’re all sad to hear of this.”

Leathers Addington has been charged with child endangerment resulting in serious injury, a class C forcible felony punishable by a mandatory prison sentence of a term not to exceed 10 years.

If convicted, Leathers Addington would not be eligible for any form of probation.

bond jump

Neighbors who live at the apartment complex where Leathers Addington resides said she was new to the complex but on the few occasions they encountered her coming and going she was pleasant.

The neighbors did not want to give their names for publication because they felt their contact with Leathers Addington had not been extensive enough to be relevant.

Reporter contact information

Cynthia Beaudette: 563-262-0527

cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com