Child abuse case bound to circuit court

Nov. 6--A Monroe mother has been bound to a higher court on charges related to the alleged severe abuse of her toddler who nearly died last December.

Jayla M. Phillips, 20, is facing charges of three counts of second-degree child abuse and two counts of fourth-degree child abuse, a complaint similar to one that was dismissed against her earlier this year before recently being reauthorized.

Her son, then 2 years old, was found badly bruised and unresponsive. His condition has since improved, and his biological father reportedly has secured temporary custody of him, family has said.

Phillips waived her right to a preliminary examination of the charges against her Wednesday afternoon before Monroe County First District Court Judge Michael C. Brown. By waiving the exam, she's not contesting that there's probable cause that she was involved in a felony crime.

She's scheduled to be arraigned 9 a.m.Nov. 13 in 38th Circuit Court before Chief Circuit Judge Michael A. Weipert or Judge Daniel S. White.

In the meantime, Lenawee County Assistant Prosecutor Angie Borders, who was assigned special prosecutor in the case, argued for an increase to Phillips' bond, which recently had been reduced to $30,000 cash or surety. It was raised to $100,000.

"She left the state with the (former) co-defendant (Cody Eagle) in this case... We believe this shows a risk for flight," Borders said Wednesday by Zoom videoconferencing. "I'm not confident that if she would be released on bond that she would return" to court.

"I personally don't believe $30,000 is sufficient," she added.

The Michigan Office of the Attorney General assigned the case to the Lenawee County Prosecutor's Office shortly after charges were refiled by the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office, which recused itself from the case -- a decision usually made to avoid a conflict.

Earlier this year, the victim's family protested the actions of the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office, stating that the department did not adequately communicate with them, among other complaints, although Monroe County Prosecutor Michael G. Roehrig in July said he was not aware of any issues.

Phillips was believed to have been arrested in Virginia, where Borders said she was spending time with Cody Eagle, her former codefendant and then-boyfriend whose charges were dismissed in February.

She reportedly was apprehended on an assault and battery charge and extradited to Michigan, according to reports. She was arraigned Oct. 20 in First District Court.

Authorities began investigating the case Dec. 22, when members of the Monroe Police Department were dispatched about 11:45 p.m. to the 700 block of Roessler St. on reports of a young boy not breathing and without a pulse, according to police reports.

Upon arrival, officers confirmed that the boy wasn't breathing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated.

He was transported by Monroe Community Ambulance to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he reportedly endured a lengthy hospital stay.

"Medical personnel brought to the attention of police that the child appeared to have severe bruising on and about most of his body," reports said.

Both Phillips and Eagle were lodged in the Monroe County jail after being questioned by the police department's detective bureau.

Eagle, 23, of Monroe, initially was being held on charges of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer, but those charges were dismissed in February.

It's not expected that charges also will be reauthorized against Eagle, but it remains unknown if his relationship to the alleged abuse remains under investigation.

___

(c)2020 Monroe News, Mich.

Visit Monroe News, Mich. at http://www.monroenews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.