Man charged with hitting girl he allegedly tossed into lake

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man accused of tossing his estranged wife's 5-year-old daughter off a bridge into a lake faces additional charges of abuse and burglary.

Johnnie Jerome Kerns, 29, of Springfield, was charged last month with felony kidnapping and assault for allegedly taking the girl from her mother's home on Sept. 6 and throwing her into McDaniel Lake.

On Friday, Green County prosecutors also charged Kerns with armed criminal action, burglary and abuse of a child.

Prosecutors allege Kerns kidnapped the girl to terrorize her mother. Kerns, who is not the girl's father, is accused of hitting the girl in the head and choking her. He allegedly tied an automobile tire to her before tossing her in the lake, the amended probable cause statement says.

Two fishermen pulled the girl from the water after hearing a splash and called 911.

Dan Patterson, chief assistant Greene County prosecuting attorney, said the new charges were based on the police report.

Kerns is being held in the Greene County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday, and an arraignment is set for Nov. 3.