Two Worthington residents found themselves behind bars on charges of battery and neglect after a juvenile under their care showed up to school on Feb. 8 with multiple bruises and abrasions. 

On Feb. 8, Brandon M. Hicks, 29, was arrested by Worthington Police Chief Jacob Gambill on a felony charge of battery on a person under the age of 14. The following day, Stacee Elizabeth Couch, 29, was arrested on a felony neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury charge by Chief Gambill. 

Gambill was contacted by White River Valley Elementary on Feb. 8 regarding a student who had multiple bruises and injuries. Gambill was informed the Department of Child Services (DCS) had been contacted as well. Upon arrival, Gambill met with DCS personnel as well as WRV School Resource Officer Jim O’Malley. Gambill was presented with a list and photographs of injuries, which included: bruises and abrasions to the back, legs, arms, head, hips, and buttocks; a large raised bump on the right arm; and a swollen right eye that also had an abrasion. 

According to the probable cause affidavit, the bruises on the victim’s back appeared to be consistent with a hand. Multiple bruises covered the victim’s arms with one large raised welt the victim said was from “Uncle B” (Hicks) popping him. When asked to show what popping was, the victim responded by pinching. When asked what happened to his back, the victim alleged Hicks did something to it; however, due to speech difficulties, they were unable to understand exactly what happened. 

Couch, the victim’s mother, was contacted by WRV staff to come to the school. While waiting for her arrival, Worthington Police Department officers made contact with Hicks and requested he go to the police department to speak with Gambill. 

At the department, Gambill conducted an audio-recorded interview with Hicks. Gambill advised Hicks the reason for the interview was to speak about the victim’s injuries. According to the probable cause affidavit, Hicks told Gambill some of the injuries were probably from him as they “rough house” sometimes. He alleged he wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt the victim. Gambill asked Hicks to let him know if he could think of anything else that could have happened to have caused the described injuries. Hicks agreed and left the department. 

While Gambill was speaking with Hicks, DCS personnel spoke with Couch at the school. According to the probable cause affidavit, DCS personnel relayed Couch’s story, which matched the one Hicks had told Gambill. 

When Gambill went back to the school and began questioning Couch, according to the probable cause, she began to wring her hands and became jittery. Gambill wrote she also began choosing her words very carefully, which based on his training is behavior consistent with someone who is not being truthful. Gambill asked Couch for the truth about what had happened and after several interview tactics, she allegedly admitted Hicks caused the marks on the victim while disciplining him. 

Couch was taken to the Worthington Police Department for further questioning by Gambill and O’Malley. During questioning, according to the probable cause affidavit, Couch explained Hicks had been being too rough with the victim for a year and a half. On multiple occasions, she said it had been so rough the victim would confide in her that he had been hurt by Hicks. She told Gambill about a week prior, Hicks smacked the victim on the back/butt area which is where she believed the handprint-looking bruise came from. She alleged Hicks had spanked the victim hard enough in the past to knock him to the ground. According to the probable cause affidavit, she admitted she knew the victim had been injured by Hicks yet still continued to place him in his care for the last year and a half even while noticing suspicious bruises. 

A second interview with Hicks was conducted by Gambill and O’Malley. At that time, Hicks was informed of the allegations; however, according to the probable cause affidavit, he denied the allegations again stating he rough houses, but that was all. 

Hicks was arrested on Feb. 8 on a Level 6 Felony charge of battery on a person less than 14 years old by Gambill. He was transported to Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $4,000 surety with 10 percent cash allowed. He was later released after posting $400. 

Couch was arrested on Feb. 9 on a Level 5 Felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury. Her bond was set at $10,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. She was later released after posting $1,000.