"Toddler Jane" LEWIS - 1 yo - Parkersburg WV

A Washington County grand jury returned felony indictments Thursday alleging child abuse and endangerment against a Beverly couple whose infant child suffered a series of injuries and broken bones.Nicholas T. Lewis, 26, of 805 Mitchell Ave. Apt. 5, is the person prosecutors say is responsible for the acts against the child, who turned 1 this month. He is facing 84 years in prison on the charges.His wife, Melanie A. Lewis, 21, is facing the possibility of 10 years in prison for allowing the abuse to occur, according to prosecutors.Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Ray Dugger said health officials began to suspect child abuse after she was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus with a suspected fracture for the second time in less than four months. The child was 3 1/2 months old when she was first taken there with a broken femur (between hip and knee).Dugger said the second trip to the hospital was for a broken humerus (between elbow and shoulder)."During that visit, they also found evidence of three broken ribs and a broken wrist," Dugger said. "Those injuries were all older and healing. But even the leg injury and the arm injury were at least a week old (before treatment was sought for those injuries)."Dugger said three physicians examined the child and ruled out any medical conditions that could explain the child's injuries."Every one of them concluded the injuries were suspicious and the result of child abuse," he said.During a subsequent interview with police, Nicholas Lewis told officers he was "always frustrated with the child because she wouldn't stop crying," Dugger said. However, Lewis continued to maintain he did not harm the child.Dugger said witnesses have come forward and indicated they have seen Nicholas Lewis handle the child inappropriately."They described him grabbing the child off the floor by a foot or wrist and flinging her onto the couch," he said. "Actually, they said it was not uncommon for him or her to treat the child roughly. (One person said) when they would argue, they would sometimes grab the child by her hands or feet and play tug-o-war."The infant and her 2-year-old half-sister have been removed from the home and placed in protective custody.The 2-year-old, who is the daughter of Melanie Lewis from a previous relationship, showed no signs of abuse.Melanie Lewis is charged with two counts of third-degree felony endangering children."She allowed the circumstances to exist that allowed this child to get hurt," Dugger said. "She could have done something."Nicholas Lewis is charged with four counts of second-degree felonious assault, four counts of third-degree felony endangering children and four counts of second-degree felony endangering children.