A Kalispell man has been charged with assault on a minor after he allegedly broke a toddler’s leg, and the mother has been charged with criminal child endangerment.
Terry Larry Chandler II, 21, and Julia Susan Sellmann, 19, both appeared in Flathead County District Court on March 30 on charges stemming from a February incident. Chandler pleaded not guilty to felony assault on a minor, which, if convicted, could put him in prison for up to 20 years. Sellmann pleaded not guilty to child endangerment, which brings a 10-year prison sentence.
According to court documents, Sellmann brought her 23-month-old son to Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Feb. 5. The boy’s leg was broken and he had bruising on his face, forehead, ears, buttocks and ribs. Sellmann told doctors that the boy had fallen down the stairs early that morning. However, hospital staff informed law enforcement that the boy’s injuries were not consistent with a fall.
When a detective interviewed Sellmann, according to court records, she gave numerous excuses before finally admitting that her boyfriend, Chandler, had broken the boy’s leg. She told the detective that the injuries had occurred over the course of a few days and that she was growing concerned that Chandler was being too rough with the boy.
According to court records, detectives then interviewed Chandler, who admitted to causing some bruising to the boy but initially denied breaking his leg. Chandler told the officers that the toddler had fallen off of a couch.
Other witnesses told law enforcement, however, that the young boy had allegedly been misbehaving earlier that day and Chandler had forced the boy to sit backwards in a chair as “punishment.” It was during that “punishment” that the toddler’s leg broke, according to prosecutors.
Chandler posted bail in March. Sellmann was released on her own recognizance. Both defendants are expected to stand trial this October.