Brown County District Court

• A Sleepy Eye couple is facing charges of child abuse and malicious punishment of a child.

Kyle T. Nason, 25, of 817 1st Ave. S. and Kaitlynn R. Hackbarth, 24, of 201 Main St. West, Sleepy Eye have been charged with felony 3rd-degree assault-victim under four, felony 3rd-degree assault-past pattern of child abuse and felony malicious punishment of a child-under four years. Charges were filed April 19. In addition, Nason was charged with gross misdemeanor domestic assault-subsequent violation.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Officer Christina Wright spoke with a witness at 12:36 p.m. April 12 who was concerned about the welfare of a two-year-old being punished very severely by Nason and Hackbarth, his girlfriend while going back and forth between Winthrop and staying at the Colonial Inn, New Ulm with Nason and Hackbarth. The witness said the two-year-old has leg and arm bruising every time she was returned to her mother’s care.

The witness had a screenshot received from another witness that read “I heard them spank (JV victim) really bad and scream at the baby for not eating.”

Another witness verified the young victim was covered with bruises. Law enforcement observed purple and yellow bruises and redness on the face of the baby.

On April 17, New Ulm Police Sr. Investigator Jeff Hohensee went to the Colonial Inn, contacted Nason and Hackbarth, told them he was investigating the baby’s injuries, that they were under arrest and would be interviewed at the police department.

Nason admitted to spanking the baby and sometimes left bruising on the baby’s buttocks. Hackbarth admitted to spanking the baby, up to three times a day.

Nason had been convicted of domestic assault Jan. 29, 2021 in Brown County.