By MARY CLOUD TAYLOR

Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man and woman accused of involvement in the assault that landed a 2-year-old child in the hospital denied all allegations when they appeared in court on Thursday.

Both 19-year-old Julia Susan Sellman, charged with felony criminal child endangerment, and Terry Larry Chandler II, 21, charged with felony assault on a minor, pleaded not guilty before Flathead District Court Judge Robert Allison.

According to court documents, Kalispell Police officers responded to Kalispell Regional Medical Center in February regarding suspicious injuries to a little girl who, according to Sellman, had fallen down a flight of stairs.

The child was found to have a broken leg and was covered in bruises, which led hospital staff treating the toddler to dispute Sellman’s report.

Witnesses told authorities that the child had not fallen down the stairs as reported, but had been “disciplined” by Chandler for misbehaving that morning.

While Chandler admitted to causing the bruising, he initially told authorities multiple stories as to how the girl had broken her leg, including falling off the couch.

Later, Chandler admitted the child had not fallen off the couch and told authorities he had broken her leg while forcing her to sit backwards in a chair as a type of punishment. When the child went stiff, Chandler said he had to “pry [her] leg back at an angle” to position her.

Sellman eventually confirmed this, stating the child’s bruising had come from multiple incidents with Chandler that occurred over several days before Chandler finally broke the child’s leg that morning.

After the couple was arrested, Chandler bonded out of jail, leaving Sellman in custody to await arraignment.

Separate jury trials were set for both co-defendants on Oct. 10.

If convicted, Sellman could face up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine while Chandler could face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $50,000 fine.

Sellman remains in custody while Chandler was released under the conditions that he not be allowed to contact Sellman, the victim or any other children under the age of 14 unless approved and supervised by Child Protective Services.

The child was put into the care of her grandparents, who said she is healing from her injuries and is now safe with them.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.