ARRAIGNMENT SET IN CHILD-ABUSE CASE

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jennifer Schwepker's 12-year-old stepson had trouble remembering sequences of events regarding several incidents of abuse earlier this year, but he was certain of Schwepker's role as both participant and observer in abuse that included a kick to the groin, a deep cut in the head and strikes from a hammer.

The boy was the only person to testify before Circuit Judge Gary Kamp Monday during a probable-cause hearing for Schwepker, 23, of rural Cape Girardeau County.

Following the testimony, Kamp found sufficient evidence for a trial and scheduled a felony arraignment for next Monday.

Schwepker has been charged with two counts of domestic assault and one count each of child abuse and child endangerment. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 28 years.

Similar charges were filed in February against the boy's father, Eric Schwepker, 30, whose case has been moved to Jefferson County on a change of venue.

Boy testifies

The boy looked at his stepmother just once -- to identify her -- during more than 30 minutes of testimony.

He said in November Schwepker pushed him backward into a cabinet with enough force to cause a deep cut to his head after he ran a sink of dishwater that she said was too hot.

"She said, I'm really sorry,'" before cleaning and bandaging the wound," the boy said. The wound was later closed with staples at a local emergency room.

In January, the boy said Schwepker kicked him in the groin, causing swelling and bruising "because she was angry." He could not remember why the incident occurred.

The boy said Schwepker grabbed him by the throat later that month and choked him after he asked if he could spend the night with his paternal grandparents.

On the same day, he said she looked on but did nothing when her husband ordered the boy to take off one shoe and sock, then hit him at least three times with a claw hammer.

Upon questioning by defense attorney Curt Poore, the boy said he could not remember the order of events leading up to the hammer incident or the time the incident occurred. He maintained that his stepmother was present when it occurred.

"She wasn't there for the whole thing," he said. "Only when my dad was smashing my toes."