A Milwaukee group-home worker is facing a felony charge after prosecutors say she assaulted a 17-year-old resident, punching the girl, yanking her hair and dragging her to the floor during a confrontation on Wednesday.
Charges And Court Filing
According to FOX6, 27-year-old Latimmia Washington has been charged with one count of physical abuse of a child. The criminal complaint states the incident took place at a group home near North 91st Street, and that the case was filed on Thursday last week in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
What Investigators Say The Video Shows
Police say another juvenile resident pulled out a phone, recorded the encounter and later turned the video over to investigators. The complaint, as reported by FOX6, says the footage shows Washington holding the teen by the hair and punching her while restraining the girl’s head. A third resident told officers she heard Washington warn, "I’ll pop you."
In her statement to officers, Washington reportedly said she had gone upstairs to look for a missing necklace and claimed the teen hit her first.
Legal Implications
Washington is charged under Wisconsin’s physical abuse of a child statute. Wis. Stat. §948.03 defines the offense, while penalties for felony classes are laid out in Wis. Stat. §939.50. A Class H felony can carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Prosecutors will need to show that Washington acted intentionally or recklessly, and both the criminal complaint and the video are expected to be key pieces of evidence at pretrial hearings.
Group Home Oversight And Context
Group homes in Wisconsin operate under licenses issued and monitored by the Department of Children and Families, which sets rules and provides resources for residential care facilities. State licensing materials note that serious incidents at such settings can trigger agency reviews in addition to any criminal investigation.
What Happens Next
The case will move forward in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Court records currently list the initial filing date, and future hearings will be added to the public docket as they are scheduled. Local prosecutors and official court filings will provide further updates as the case heads toward arraignment and any preliminary hearings.
