An El Paso couple is facing serious charges after their recent arrest by the FBI on suspicions of child abuse. Cecilia Stepaniak and Coreydon Stepaniak, both 34, are named in a four-count federal indictment detailing a series of horrifying allegations involving a minor under their care. Court documents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, suggest that from April 2019 to February 2024, the couple engaged in abusive acts that posed a serious risk of death, bodily injury, and mental or physical impairment to the child.
Charges against the Stepaniaks include conspiracy to commit injury to a child, injury to a child, child endangerment, and child abandonment. The minor was allegedly subjected to cruel punishments, like being kicked while down, held at knife-point, and forced into relentless physical exercise. The indictment also accuses the pair of less physical but equally sinister acts of abuse, such as restricting the minor's food and confining them to dark and isolated spaces within their Fort Bliss home, all while the child was removed from school under the pretense of bullying.
As reported by the Department of Justice, should the Stepaniaks be found guilty, they could each potentially face substantial prison time. Penalties range from a minimum of 180 days to a possible 20 years, depending on the charge. Most notably, the endangerment and abandonment charges carry a minimum sentence of two years and can extend up to 20 years. The final sentence will ultimately be determined by a federal district court judge, who will take into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The investigation into the Stepaniaks' conduct was a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The case is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nallely Barbosa and Debra Kanof.
