A woman charged with child abuse after a 3-year-old girl was brought to the hospital weighing about 20 pounds appeared in court Wednesday.
Tina Marie Houcks, 36, was assigned a public defender, and her next court date was set for Nov. 13. She was charged last week with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, authorities said.
Houcks, who is being held on a $75,000 bond, didn’t say anything during the brief hearing in front of Judge Melvin Okamoto.
The girl was brought to the hospital Oct. 13, and the doctor determined she was suffering from neglect, according to an arrest warrant.
The girl’s mother, who is Houcks’ roommate, was arrested last week and is expected to be charged today, said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney’s office.
Art Kane, The Denver Post
