LOWELL (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – A Lowell woman accused of punching her 10-year-old daughter in the face appeared in court Wednesday.
Carla Williams, who is charged with a single count of domestic assault and battery on a child causing bodily injury, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Lowell District Court. She was released on $500 cash bail, $5,000 surety.
When police arrived at the family's Ennell Street home at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, police say Williams admitted she punched her daughter in the face, but argued there was nothing they could do about it since she was entitled to discipline her child.
According to the Lowell Sun, the girl was found in her bedroom, crying and bleeding from her nose. She was taken to Lowell General Hospital for treatment. Her condition was not immediately available.
The girl told police she was playing at a neighbor's home across the street when her mom began screaming. That's when she allegedly dragged her daughter out of the house and across the street by her hair, then dragged her up steps by her leg before punching her in the face with a closed fist.
Williams has three prior convictions, but none of them are assault.
Williams has other children.
The Department of Children and Families is investigating.
Williams has a pre-trial conference scheduled for July 2.
