Volunteer child abuse advocate charged with beating son

Lisa Roose-Church | Livingston Daily

A Pinckney mother who works at a domestic violence shelter has been jailed on allegations she brutally beat her son with a leather belt until it broke.

Ashley Nicole Bell, 28, remains jailed on a $150,000 bond for third-degree child abuse and domestic violence.

She returns to 53rd District Court in Howell on Wednesday for an exam conference.

Pinckney police said they received a report May 25 from a family member that Bell’s 9-year-old son had been beaten three days prior when Bell became “enraged” with her son.

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Police said Bell, who is employed with an undisclosed Washtenaw County domestic violence shelter, was “upset with the child and inappropriately disciplined him." They did not release the nature of the mother and son’s interaction that led to the alleged beating.

Police said family members indicated that they reported previous accusations of abuse of the boy by Bell to the state’s Child Protective Services agency, but that this is the first time the Pinckney Police Department has been notified of any allegations.

Bob Wheaten, a spokesman with the state Department of Health and Human Services, said he cannot confirm, nor provide, specific information on whether the agency received a complaint or is investigating an allegation.

Police said Bell indicated that she worked in the domestic violence shelter's finance office and that she volunteered as an advocate.

Police encourage citizens who suspect child abuse to call their local police department or LACASA, a local organization that advocates for victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Pinckney Police Department can be reached at (734) 878-3700 and LACASA at (517) 548-1350.

Michigan State Police assisted the Pinckney Police Department in the investigation.

Contact Livingston Daily justice reporter Lisa Roose-Church at 517-552-2846 or lrchurch@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @LisaRooseChurch.