Kearns couple charged with abuse of 8-year-old child

According to court documents filed Oct. 12, Mandy Jean Barbour, 28, and Steven Gene Durrant, 24, live in a home in Kearns with their two children, ages 1 and 8, as well as another occupant. Photos Courtesy: Salt Lake County

KEARNS, Utah, Oct. 23, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A couple from Kearns has been charged with multiple counts of abuse of their 8-year-old son after witnesses contacted police.

According to court documents filed Oct. 12, Mandy Jean Barbour, 28, and Steven Gene Durrant, 24, live in a home in Kearns with their two children, ages 1 and 8, as well as another occupant.

Barbour and Durrant were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Oct. 19. Barbour is charged with one count of second-degree felony child abuse and three counts of third-degree felony child endangerment, while Durrant is charged with one count of second-degree felony child abuse, three counts of third-degree felony child endangerment and one count of misdemeanor child abuse.

A witness, who lives in the home, reported that on July 6 she heard Barbour yelling at the 8-year-old and heard the child yelling “don’t kick me.” When the witness entered the room, she found the boy on the ground with his hands over his head and Barbour standing over him. The child said Barbour had kicked him in the ribs. The child had bruising on his chest, the witness said.

Six days later, the same witness said she saw the child with black eyes and a swollen face. According to court documents, the witness took pictures of the boy.

When interviewed by detectives, the 8-year-old said in May 2017 the couple kept him out of school to hide bruises after Barbour kicked him in the face. The child also said Durrant and Barbour smoked and consumed drugs in front of him. The child told police the couple would give him food “twice a month.”

Barbour and Durrant are being held on $100,000 bail.

Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

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