Councilman Schumm, wife out on bond after child abuse allegations

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -- A Topeka city councilman and his wife were released on bond early Friday afternoon. They were both arrested Thursday on allegations of child abuse.

Fourth District representative Jonathan Schumm and his wife, Allison, each were booked into the Shawnee County Jail Thursday night on counts of Aggravated Battery and Abuse of a Child, as well as four counts each of Endangering a Child.

A City of Topeka spokesperson issued a statement late Thursday saying arrest warrants were issued for the Schumms on Thursday following an investigation that began earlier this month.

According to the city's statement, on Wednesday, November 4th, the Kansas Dept. of Children and Families (DCF) asked the Topeka Police Dept. for help investigating reports of physical abuse against children. DCF social workers and police detectives investigated the reports and notified the Shawnee Co. District Attorney's Office, who obtained the arrest warrant.

The Schumm's appeared in Shawnee Co. District Court Friday morning around 10:30. They both were in shackles. Honorable William Ossmann read the arrest charges, as Jonathan and Allison Schumm separately appeared on screen via video from the Shawnee Co. Jail.

Court documents list five children as victims, all between the ages of five and 16. In detailing accounts of aggravated battery and abuse of a child, the document states a 12-year-old was tortured, or cruelly beaten by the Schumm's.

The Schumm's currently live on SE Michigan in Topeka. They have 16 children, 12 adopted and four biological. 13 NEWS spoke with a neighbor Friday afternoon, who is concerned about the childrens' futures.

"I felt bad for the kids, because they're the ones that are going to have to put up with this. They're the ones that now don't have a home, again," said Schumm's neighbor Daniel Hays.

Jonathan Schumm was released on a bond of $35,000. Allison Schumm's bond had been set at $20,000. During the court appearance, it was stated that in the bond, neither of them could have any contact with the children, both victims and witnesses.

Ossmann asked Jonathan Schumm if they had a lawyer for this case. He responded by saying they had just hired a lawyer in a previous case, when they're children were removed from their home.

The Department of Children and Families has not confirmed if or how many children were taken from the Schumm's.

The city spokesperson said police will not release any further details on the investigation.

This is Schumm's first term on Topeka City Council. He was elected to represent the 4th District, which is in the the southeast corner of the city, last April. He works for Modern Woodman Insurance.

In 2013, the couple received a national "Angels in Adoption Award."