St. Joseph woman accused of kicking 7-year-old into Sedalia pool

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A St. Joseph woman was charged with a pair of felonies after she allegedly kicked a 7-year-old boy into a pool on Saturday in Sedalia.

Penny Badgett, born in 1963, was charged with child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. She was held at the Pettis County Jail on a 24-hour hold and was released, according to Monday court filings. A warrant was issued on Monday and a $15,000 bond was set.

The probable cause statement says police were called to a hotel after 8 p.m. Saturday. Badgett allegedly kicked a 7-year-old boy into a pool that was 5-and-a-half-feet deep, the statement says. She did not know the youth beforehand.

Badgett was confronted by the child’s aunt and Badgett allegedly told the woman that she kicked the youth because he “was mean to another child,” the statement says. Police reviewed video, which allegedly showed Badgett standing behind the child, waited for him to sit down and then using her foot to push him into the pool, court documents say.

Police went to Badgett’s room and she allegedly said, “I know what this is about, I pushed him,” court documents say.