Jennings Released On Reduced Bond After Entering Plea

The Laramie daycare provider accused of abusing an 8-month-old boy has been released from custody after her bond was reduced at her arraignment.

Mishawnna Kayleen Jennings, 36, appeared before Albany County District Judge Jeffrey Donnell today and entered a plea of not guilty for a charge of Aggravated Child Abuse.

Jennings' attorney, Deborah Roden, requested that bond be modified to a lesser amount. She cited that Jennings has lived in Laramie for the last 22 years, has no criminal record, and is a mother of three children. She said that the crime, if committed, was an act of frustration rather than a planned act of violence.

Prosecutor Kurt Britzius objected to modifying the bond, saying the bond should be increased if changed at all. Britzius argued that the charge is for a violent crime which she did not report for several hours. He said the state has significant weight to the case based off Jennings' own statements. He added that there were other allegations of abuse in the past, although none of the other accusations have been founded by law enforcement.

Judge Donnell chose to reduce bond to one of $15,000 at 10 percent. This means the person placing bond would be required to provide $1,500 for the bond but would be required to cover the additional $13,500 if bond conditions are violated.

Donnell modified the bond under the condition that Jennings not be around children without being supervised by another adult. Jennings was released from custody this afternoon.

A three-day trial has been set for April 29 through May 1.

Aggravated Child Abuse is a felony punishable of up to 25 years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.