JONESBORO, Ark. — A mother is facing numerous felony charges after a probable cause affidavit alleged she was caught on home surveillance cameras striking and throwing her two-year-old son.
Kyla Maelyn Bates, 25, of Jonesboro, faces three counts of second-degree domestic battery, a Class C felony, and three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor.
Craighead County District Judge Tommy Fowler set bail at $150,000 cash or surety on Wednesday. He ordered no contact with the child, who is in the custody of the defendant’s mother. The judge ordered that the only visitation allowed with the child must be in the presence of the Department of Human Services.
“Do not play around with my no-contact order,” Fowler said.
“We won’t,” Bates said.
Fowler also said authorities are still reviewing the video footage, and more charges may be filed.
The probable cause affidavit stated that on May 16, the Jonesboro Police Department was notified of videos of a juvenile being struck and thrown around by a female subject. A witness turned in the videos to police and identified the suspect as Kyla Bates, with the juvenile being her two-year-old son.
Detectives wrote in the affidavit that the videos showed two separate instances in which the victim was crying. During this time, Kyla Bates struck the victim with an open hand on his back, picked him up, shook him by his arms, and continuously yelled profanities at the victim. During one of the videos, Bates was seen taking off her pants, getting another pair, and striking the victim with the pants.
Detective Colton Brown was assigned the case for further investigation. He spoke with the witness, who also resided with Bates. The witness had security cameras in the living room and kitchen of the residence. He agreed to turn over the entire prior year of video footage to the detective.
Police discovered a third incident while reviewing the footage, according to the affidavit. It states that the encounter began when Bates slapped the child in the head.
“She begins to yell several profanities at the victim before she approaches him and strikes him in the chest to pick him up,” the detective’s affidavit said. “After all of this, Kyla Bates picks the victim up and throws him across the room onto a couch, where he then falls on the floor.”
On May 21, Bates turned herself in and was transported to the Craighead County Detention Center.
Her next court date is scheduled for July 31.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-482-5964.
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