LOGAN — A Smithfield couple has been arrested for allegedly abusing and not properly nourishing three children, according to law enforcement. Kyle Johnston, 46, and Danielle Fenton, 31, were booked Thursday into the Cache County Jail.
Both were arraigned Friday morning during a virtual hearing in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail. They were each charged with 10 counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony; and four counts of abuse or neglect of a child with a disability, a third-degree felony.
According to a probable cause statement, Smithfield City Police officers received an abuse report from the Division of Child and Family Services in August 2022. The alleged victims were 2, 4 and 5-years-old.
During their lengthy investigation, officers uncovered medical records that allegedly showed how Johnston and Fenton fabricated illnesses for the children, resulting in repeated and invasive testing. At the same time, they would neglect other healthcare recommendations such as physical, occupational and speech therapies that would optimize the children’s functioning, the arrest affidavit described.
The fabrications reportedly led to the children being placed on feeding tubes, catheterized, diapered and forced to use wheel chairs. Two doctors who later evaluated the alleged victims told police they had never seen a case like this in their careers of practicing medicine.
During Friday’s arraignment, Cache County Deputy Attorney Ronnie Keller asked the court to hold Johnston and Fenton in jail without bail, noting the lengthy allegations.
Defense attorney Joseph Saxton, who represented Johnston and Fenton in a child custody case, called the allegations false. He argued that they should be entitled to bail.
Judge Spencer Walsh agreed and set bail at $10,000 each but prohibited the couple from having any contact with the alleged victims. He also assigned public defenders to represent them and ordered them to appear next week in court.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
will@cvradio.com