West Plains, MO. – A Willow Springs man facing multiple felony charges including child abuse, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child pled not guilty when he stood before a Howell County judge Monday morning.
Kevin Todd Mersman, age 44 of Willow Springs, is facing four counts of Abuse or Neglect of a Child – No Sexual Contact, four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, three counts of 1st Degree Assault, and one count of 3rd Degree Domestic Assault.
Mersman went before Howell County Judge Robert David Ray on Monday morning and waived hearing the formal arraignment and reading of charges. Mersman has pled not guilty to the charges.
Mersman had admitted to law enforcement that he had abused a 6-year-old adopted autistic child after a babysitter had alerted authorities about bruises on the girl’s back, face, neck, and arms according to the probable cause statement.
Mersman is currently out on $50,000 surety bond. The next hearing is scheduled for October 17, 2022 at 9 a.m.
