LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A 26-year-old Leonardtown woman is facing felony child abuse and assault charges after authorities allege she struck a 10-year-old child in the head with a high-heeled shoe during a domestic dispute.
Angel Justine Moran was charged with second-degree child abuse by a custodian and second-degree assault following an Aug. 11 incident at a residence in Leonardtown.
According to charging documents, a St. Mary’s County sheriff’s deputy responded to the home around 12:43 p.m. for a reported assault.
The alleged victim told the deputy that he and Moran, his wife, had gotten into an argument over Moran communicating with another man through social media.
Investigators allege Moran attempted to take a cellphone from the man’s hand during the argument and scratched him several times across his chest and shoulder. The deputy reported observing small red lacerations in those areas.
The man further alleged Moran blocked a rear door when he attempted to leave the residence and threatened him with pepper spray.
According to the charging documents, the couple’s 10-year-old child stepped between the adults during the confrontation in an attempt to separate them.
Child Allegedly Struck With High Heel
The investigation took another turn after the child reportedly told authorities that Moran followed the child into a bedroom following the confrontation.
The child alleged Moran sprayed pepper spray onto the bedroom ceiling before leaving, then returned carrying a high-heeled shoe and struck the child on the right side of the head.
Authorities reported seeing a swollen bruise on the child’s right temple that investigators said was consistent with being struck by that type of shoe.
When questioned again at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Moran acknowledged following the child to the bedroom and deploying pepper spray into the ceiling, according to the documents.
She denied striking the child with a shoe and told investigators she would never hit her children.
Based on the child’s reported injury and other information gathered during the investigation, Moran was additionally charged with second-degree child abuse.
Released After Bond Review
Court records show Moran was initially ordered held without bond on Aug. 11.
Following a bond review before Judge David W. Densford on Aug. 12, she was released on her own recognizance.
Moran is charged with felony second-degree child abuse and misdemeanor second-degree assault.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 8 in St. Mary’s District Court.
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