Sherena Michele Harris

Jolene Marie Swihart

One of two women arrested in May of this year for abusing a child received only probation for her crime. The second woman is still going through the criminal court process.

Sherene Harris, 26, 1692 E. 200 N. Lot 89, Warsaw, was charged with a Class C felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in injury, and a Class D felony count of battery resulting in injury. The charges stemmed from her admission to striking her child with a belt, which left visible bruising on the child. She also admitted to taping the 4-year-old’s mouth shut.

In a plea agreement, the Class C felony charge was dismissed and Harris pleaded guilty to the Class D charge. She received a 1 year suspended sentence in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.

As a result of the investigation, a second woman, Jolene Marie Swihart, 30, of the same address as Harris, was also arrested. She was charged with the same Class C and Class D felonies.

During interviews, investigators determined Swihart had kicked and potentially injured the same 4-year-old toddler on other previous occasions.

Swihart is scheduled for a 10 a.m. pre-trial conference in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Oct. 14.