Fridley woman sentenced for ‘diaper duty’ punishment of daughter
Stephanie Ann Broten, 38, of Fridley, was sentenced Nov. 14 to 90 days in jail for the malicious punishment of her 12-year-old daughter that occurred on May 7, 2012.
Broten and Darnell Alan Landrum, 34, also of Fridley, were charged with malicious punishment for allegedly forcing Broten’s daughter to run outside wearing only a diaper and tank top for about 30 minutes after they shaved her head.
Broten was placed on probation for 2 years, ordered to pay a fine of $400, and to cooperate with the child protection case plan. Broten is not allowed to have contact with her daughter unless it is approved by Anoka County Social Services, and is not permitted to allow Landrum to have contact with her daughter.
The May incident was the third time the girl had been put through this “diaper duty,” said the criminal complaint filed in the case. Broten and Landrum reportedly became upset because the girl had received a poor grade in school.
The complaint alleges that Landrum and Broten felt they had to discipline her by embarrassing her. People noticed the girl while running outside and then called the police. When they arrived, police found the girl crying hysterically.
While the girl was being escorted to a squad car, an onlooker took a baby blanket off her own child and wrapped it around the girl to help cover her up.
Broten told police she didn’t see what the problem was. Landrum said the girl had been warned if she didn’t improve her grades, she would be disciplined in this way, according to court documents.
Tony Palumbo, Anoka County Attorney, stated “This was a particularly cruel act which exceeded any sense of reasonable discipline. The justice system had to react strongly to this crime.”
On Oct. 29, Landrum pled guilty to aiding and abetting malicious punishment of a child. Landrum also pled guilty to a domestic assault charge for an October 2010 offense where he hit Broten’s daughter with a belt, leaving bruises on her legs.
Landrum’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 21.
