Court documents signed by Middletown police Sgt. Malcolm Tipton say that “(Tester) was observed on (a) video recording appearing to strike the child, sitting on the child for approximately 36 seconds and shaking the child all while yelling and telling the child to ‘shut-up.’”
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Judge Ronald Craft ordered Tester to undergo counseling and anger management, not offer babysitting services and make restitution in the amount of $721.80, according to Clevenger and defense attorney Frank Schiavone IV.
Tester is scheduled to be back in court Sept. 16, and if she completes everything the judge required, Craft will consider dismissing the charges, Schiavone said.
“(Craft) basically created a diversion program for her,” he said
Tester, described as a family friend, was babysitting Owen, the son of Corrie and Derrick Beckett, three or four days a week in October. But they became concerned after they said the child’s behavior changed.
“We just need to know nothing’s going on because he wasn’t acting right,” Corrie Beckett said.
The Becketts hid the camera above the fireplace so they could see what was happening after they left for work. Corrie Beckett said she was shocked by what she saw later that morning on her cellphone.
“When I watched the video, she was screaming at him, telling him to shut up, sitting on top of him,” she said.
In one clip, viewers can hear her screaming at Owen while he’s crying.
“Shut up!”
Later, she leans over and continues to yell at him.
“You gotta get over it!”
That’s when things get physical and she gets on top of the 10-month-old.
“Owen. Damn, man!”
Corrie Beckett returned home that morning to confront the babysitter.
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The Becketts filed a police report, saying Owen had a cut on his upper lip and there was blood on the sleeves of his pajamas. Prosecutors did not file charges at that time. However, Middletown police reopened the case and the misdemeanor charge was filed in January.
Schiavone said the incident also was investigated by Butler County Children Services, and the finding was the “allegations were unsubstantiated.”
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