Manitowoc County mom pleads not guilty

MANITOWOC – A woman accused of child abuse for allegedly putting the child in a scalding bath pleaded not guilty.

Ruthann Gneiser waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday and pleaded not guilty, according to online court records.

No trial date was set. A plea hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.

She’s accused of beating and scalding her five-year-old son, who has Down syndrome. According to court documents, she admitted to slapping the boy repeatedly on his back. She’s also accused of making the boy sit in a bathtub filled with scalding water. Gneiser said she didn’t realize the water was too hot.

A judge previously denied Gneiser’s request to see her children. The issue of supervised contact was raised again Wednesday. The judge will hear arguments on that at a hearing Tuesday