LOGAN — A 39-year-old Smithfield woman has been arrested for allegedly whipping a teenage girl with a phone charger cable, according to law enforcement. Norma Elida Bermudez-Villega was booked last Friday into the Cache County Jail.
According to the arrest paperwork, Smithfield City Police officers were called to a report of child abuse after the alleged victim ran to a neighbor’s house to ask for help. The girl was reportedly barefoot and had welts on her body.
The neighbor provided the teenage girl with a blanket, sweeter and shoes. They then drove her to Capsa, a nonprofit domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape recovery center, where police were able to meet with her.
The alleged victim told officers how Bermudez had hit her repeatedly with a phone charger cable, after becoming upset that she had gone to a friend’s house without permission. The girl had red marks on her arms, wrists, back and thighs, according to the probable cause statement.
Police made contact with Bermudez at her home. She admitted to hitting the girl with the cable multiple times.
Bermudez also allegedly had an odor of alcohol coming from her person. She later told police that she had drank two 12-packs of Michelob Ultra.
According to court records, Bermudez appeared Monday, April 21 in Logan’s 1st District Court. She was charged with aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony; and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.
Bermudez is being held in jail without bail. She is scheduled to appear again in court May 5 and could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.