Enumclaw Woman Charged with Abuse After Beating 3-Year-Old Who Was Not Potty-Trained

An Enumclaw woman is accused of physically assaulting her boyfriend's 3-year-old son over potty training problems, according to charging papers filed by the King County Prosecutor's Office last week.

Chasity R. Dufour, 25, faces a $250,000 bail. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Cecilia Gregson indicated in the bail request that the boy "was covered in bruises from head to toe, partially blinded, and will have lasting neurological and physical challenges after suffering repeated assaults..."

Gregson wrote that the timeframe of the alleged assaults lie between April 30 and May 29 this year and that they may have started over potty training issues.

According to a June 26 report filed by Enumclaw Police Det. Grant McCall who investigated the case, Dufour brought the boy to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma on May 29 for a seizure. That same day, a social worker contacted him regarding a possible child abuse and that the boy, David, had been moved to the ICU.

A physician's report indicated David had suffered from bleeding in the brain as well as numerous bruises on his head, chest and back. The findings "were concerning for non accidental trauma," said McCall's report. Though he had no broken bones, an ophthalmologist found two days later that David had retinal bleeding in his eyes which was an indication of shaken baby syndrome or choking. The physician concluded he may have been shaken the day he was brought to the hospital, which caused the onset of the seizure.

Dufour began watching David in late April after he was removed from daycare due to some behavioral problems, his father told McCall. Both indicate they have used spanking as a means of disciplining the spirited and sometimes unruly child but opt for other ways to better get through to him.

Dufour's own 5-year-old son reportedly told the social worker who had worked with him that "Mom told me to tell she didn't hurt David."

According to McCall's report, Dufour's son also said his mother would push David down because she didn't like it that he urinated in his pants and would spank him. The boy said when David gets pushed down "he hurts from the ground and his head gets hurt."

Gregson indicated in her bail request that there was concern Dufour was coaching her son and also requests she have no contact with David, her own five-year-old son or any other minor children.

Dufour faces one count of assault of a child in the second degree - domestic violence. Her arraignment is set for July 19 at the Regional Justice Center in Kent.