Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County had its annual child abuse prevention event on Friday, April 16, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Shown is some of the crowd. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A noontime gathering Friday on the Kosciusko County lawn that addressed child abuse prevention awareness had special meaning for at least one couple who attended.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County put on the event outside of the Kosciusko County Courthouse. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Organizers estimated 85-100 people came out – the most they’ve ever had. Among them were representatives from local law enforcement, education and the court system.

Also attending were Nick and Sherry Leeman. They are the parents of Emma Grace Leeman, who passed away in 2018 after suffering a fatal brain injury while in the care of her babysitter Courtney Kincaid.

Kincaid was sentenced to 30 years in prison in August 2020.

Though this is the sixth year for the local event, it was the first time the Leemans had attended.

“Even though there wasn’t ongoing abuse with Emma that we are aware of, it’s always important to keep all children safe whether it’s a one-time incident or an ongoing case,” Sherry Leeman told InkFreeNews afterward.

“It needs to be stopped and everybody needs to be a part of CASA because the more voices we have for the kids, the less time the predators have to get away with what they’re doing.”

She said the couple plans to become CASA volunteers.

The couple also spoke with State Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw, after the event. Snow was one of the gathering’s speakers Friday.

“Something that we learned when we were dealing with Emma Grace’s case with her babysitter, Courtney Kincaid, was that when it comes to sexual predators against children there is something called a sentencing enhancement that qualifies for that, so the judge can give that criminal an extra 10 years for a sexual abuse against a child but not just any abuse,” Sherry Leeman said.

“Why is only sexual abuse highlighted in the sentencing enhancement? We believe that … (Emma Grace’s) predator should have been able to get an extra 10 years sentencing enhancement because of child abuse.”

“We were talking to (Snow) there just now to get his thoughts,” she said. “He’s new on the job. He’s going to look into it we hope.”

Snow encouraged people during the event to volunteer for CASA.

“There’s so many kids that they don’t have anywhere to turn and they don’t know the difference,” he said. “What they live in is … that’s just kind of their world and they don’t know that it can be different, it can be better.”

“And so if adults can step in and … help if you will, that’s the main thing,” he continued.

Snow serves on the Indiana House of Representatives Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee.

“We had the (Indiana Department of Child Services) Director (Terry Stigdon) and some of her staff come in and give a presentation … and they showed us everything that DCS does and the things that they have in the works and what they’re trying to do to help prevent abuse or neglect,” he said. “They have a hard job; I mean they’re overworked, they need more resources and just to think that they’re doing all this on the behalf of a child, I mean it really works hand in hand with CASA.”

Kosciusko County’s DCS Director Lindsay Castro was also one of the speakers Friday along with CASA of Kosciusko County Executive Director Erin Rowland Jones.

After several speeches, those watching took a walk around the courthouse before stopping to plant pinwheels on the lawn.

“The pinwheels represent the whimsy of a happy childhood,” Rowland Jones explained to those gathered, mentioning one national child abuse prevention group had started using them as a symbol.

The yard of pinwheels this year included one large pinwheel. Rowland Jones explained that was in honor of Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates. He passed away in December 2020.

“He was the judge that heard most of the Child in Need of Services cases,” she said. “He was a tireless advocate for children. He was a mentor and a friend to myself and I know to Lindsay as well and was a great supporter of CASA and the Department of Child Services.”

According to CASA of Kosciusko County, “162 children needed and were assigned a CASA due to abuse and neglect in Kosciusko County alone” in 2020.

Rowland Jones said there are about 57 county CASA volunteers, but “we’re in need of about two or three cases that we’re waiting for an open CASA to take their case.”

CASA is hoping to sign up 20 new volunteers by the end of the month.

To learn how to volunteer or to donate to the organization, people should call 574-372-2401 or visit casachildren.com.

One of the event’s speakers was State Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw, right. Kosciusko County Department of Child Services Director Lindsay Castro is on the left.

Attendees could plant pinwheels in a display on the courthouse lawn. Some of those included Kosciusko County Superior Court 3 Judge Chad Miner, left; Sherry Leeman, in the gray sweatshirt in the back, the mother of Emma Grace Leeman, who died after suffering a fatal brain injury while in the care of a babysitter; and incoming Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath, in the yellow coat on the right.

A look at the pinwheel display. The large pinwheel in the back is in honor of late Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates.