Published: October 01, 2008 12:01 am            

Suspects in abuse claiming mental defects

Two of the four arrested seek mental evaluations

The man who rented the home where two young children were badly abused in May is seeking a mental defect defense.

Defense attorney Michael Bolinger filed the motion in Howard Superior Court 4 to rely on a mental defect defense and a motion to dismiss two neglect charges against his client, Donald Hawk.

Hawk underwent mental evaluations by two physicians to determine his mental competency to stand trial.

Judge George Hopkins will rule on the motions at an Oct. 16 hearing.

Hawk, 33, faces two Class C felony charges of child neglect resulting in bodily injury in the case described by police as being one of the worst abuse and neglect cases in Kokomo’s history.

The children’s mothers, Melissa Chandler, 30, and Jennifer Leonard, 36, each face six felony charges of neglect of a dependent and two felony charges of battery.

Chandler and Leonard’s cases are pending.

Chandler’s attorney, Gary Cook, also filed a motion last month to have his client undergo mental evaluations to determine if she is competent to stand trial.

She was set to stand trial Oct. 21, but that date could be continued due to the evaluations.

Leonard’s trial is set for Jan. 6.

The mothers were living in the home at 1100 S. Home Ave., with Hawk and Madeline Hawk, 42, when police discovered the abuse.

Madeline Hawk faces two felony child neglect charges. Her trial is set for Nov. 18.

All four remain incarcerated in the Howard County jail.

Police found the two 4-year-olds suffering from multiple injuries, including broken bones and open wounds, police reported.

Police said the two children were allegedly held in closets for up to three weeks at a time, bound with zip ties and suffered broken bones in an abuse case that one police officer said would have proven fatal if it had gone on much longer. The children were also deprived of food and water for extended periods of time.

The children were removed from the home and are now in the custody of Child Services and are doing fine, Marilyn Robinson, head of the local office of Child Services, said this week.

Robinson added a special thanks to the community for any and all contributions people have made to help abused children.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com



You can help:

In response to the abuse two children suffered in May, Kokomo Tribune employees established a trust fund for the children at Solidarity Federal Credit Union. To date, the balance is $1,871. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at Solidarity Federal Credit Union, 201 Southway Blvd., Kokomo.

        

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