Woman accused of felony after 5-year-old punched while in grocery store line

URICH, Mo. (KCTV) - A Missouri woman has been charged with a felony after a grocery store employee revealed that she may have punched a 5-year-old while in line.

Henry County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Wednesday, May 28, indicate that Caitlin R. Snethen, 28, of Urich, has been charged with child endangerment after she allegedly punched a 5-year-old.

A probable cause statement filed by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office revealed that around 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, law enforcement officials were called to a grocery store in the 1000 block of NW Graham Rd. with reports of possible child abuse.

When first responders arrived, they met with a store employee who showed them security footage of a woman, later identified as Snethen, as she stood in line with a 5-year-old child. As she attempted to make her purchase, she could be seen reaching around and punching the child in the head.

Investigators noted that the impact of the punch caused the child to fall to the ground. The footage ended after the encounter.

Law enforcement officials indicated that after Snethen was taken into custody, she itted to punching the child due to their behavioral issues. As a result, she has been charged with felony child endangerment. If convicted, she could be sentenced to 7 years in prison and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $10,000.

As of Friday afternoon, court documents revealed that Snethen no longer remains behind bars as her $5,000 bond has been posted. A bond reduction hearing has been set for 9 a.m. on Friday, June 6. No further information has been released.

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