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Associated Press
ST. CHARLES -- A 20-year-old daycare provider has been charged with felony assault after a 7-month-old girl in her care suffered a twisting fracture in her leg, according to Winona County prosecutors.
The criminal complaint filed in the case says Natasha Janice Schweitzer of St. Charles told investigators that she "just lost it" March 8 when the baby fell off a couch and cried while other children at her home daycare where running and yelling.
Schweitzer told investigators she twisted the girl's leg until she heard a pop. Court records say she did not call for medical help nor tell the baby's mother what happened.
The child's mother noticed something was wrong and took her to Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. X-rays revealed a twisting fracture of the right thigh bone. Authorities were called and questioned Schweitzer. Sheriff's deputies arrested her Sunday.
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She made her first court appearance Tuesday and was released after posting a $5,000 bond. A judge said she could not have unsupervised contact with children younger than 10, including her 1-year-old child, without official permission.
Winona County suspended Schweitzer's child care license, which was less than a year old, said Nancy Prodzinski, a county day care licenser.
She said that if the state approves the suspension, the county could permanently revoke Schweitzer's license. Schweitzer would have the right to appeal.
