ST. MARYS – An Elk County man and woman have been charged in district court after allegedly causing significant injuries to a two-year-old child.

Deborah Marie-Thornton Schmitz, 20, and Matthew James Mercer, 28, have each been charged with a felony count of aggravated assault of a victim less than six years old, a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children, a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary offense of harassment.

Both individuals are currently incarcerated in the Elk County Prison in lieu of bail.

An affidavit of probable cause outlining the charges was obtained the office of Magisterial District Judge Mark S. Jacob.

According to the affidavit, an investigation into Mercer and Schmitz started on Oct. 24 as officers with the Johnsonburg Police Department were called to Penn Highlands Elk for a report of a child abuse incident.

According to the affidavit, the responding officer found the 2-year-old child covered “with bruises and lacerations all over her body from top to bottom.”

Additionally, the officer reported that “the hospital took photographs but the pictures did not justify just how bad the bruising was compared to viewing the injuries first hand.”

The child was reportedly staying with Schmitz and Mercer at 330 Main St. in Kersey prior to the incident.

According to the affidavit, the child has been taken into the custody of the Elk County Children and Youth Services through an order from the Elk County Court of Common Pleas.

The CYS worker assigned to the case stated that the child “is in the worst condition that she has ever seen and that it is having a traumatic impact on her.”

Additionally, the CYS worker reported that the child appeared to have been neglected due to signs of dehydration, including dry skin, dry mouth and lips, and brittle dry hair.

Both Mercer and Schmitz were interviewed by police.

According to the affidavit, Schmitz relayed that she disciplines the child for misbehaving by “tapping her on the behind.” Further, Schmitz reportedly said that she tries to place the child in time out or in a corner but the child continues to misbehave.

According to the affidavit, Schmitz stated that she would discipline the child for calling her Debby instead of mommy, an act that she believes was disrespectful.

Additionally, the affidavit states that Schmitz stated that other misbehavior included the child refusing to cooperate in potty training and saying “no” when told to do something.

According to the affidavit, the child attempts to run away when Schmitz attempts to hit her on the behind, and this action causes the child to get hit on the back of the back of the legs.

Schmitz allegedly told police that “she did not think that she was using too much force but did relate that there may have been times that the hitting became excessive.”

Schmitz allegedly told police that Mercer also hits the child.

Further, Schmitz allegedly told police that the child’s black eyes and head injuries were caused by her launching off of the toilet and hitting her head on the bathtub approximately four separate times.

According to the affidavit, Schmitz became concerned about the child’s swollen jaw and took the child to Q-Care in Ridgway before workers contacted CYS and transported the child to Penn Highlands Elk.

Mercer was later interviewed by police and allegedly told troopers that “he thinks that this investigation is ridiculous and that everyone is making it out to be something that it is not.”

Mercer further stated that he believes that Schmitz is a good mother and the child is a good kid who is not being abused. Mercer allegedly told police that he does hit the child when she misbehaves, court records read.

When asked about the injuries, Mercer allegedly told police that they “are not going to pin this all on him,” and that all of the marks in the photographs were not recent.

According to the affidavit, Mercer said that he did not realize that the injuries were that bad.

Additionally, Mercer reportedly mentioned that the child recently hit her head on a bathtub after coming off of the toilet and hit the toilet after slipping and falling.

According to the affidavit, troopers received the medical records from Penn Highlands Elk. The injuries to the child include “an obvious head injury, tenderness, swelling, raccoon eyes, contusions, ecchymosis, a lacerated lip and under tongue, warm and dry skin and tender chest and ribs.”

As a result of the incident, Schmitz and Mercer have been charged. Both were arraigned before Jacob on Monday. Jacob set bail against both individuals at $25,000 monetary; unable to post bail, both were confined in the Elk County Prison.

Both are scheduled to appear before Jacob on Nov. 22 for a preliminary hearing.

Online court documents do not list an attorney for either individual.