A Kelso woman is facing assault charges after being accused of attacking a 9-year-old, who she knew, in October.
Christina Lynn Welch, 39, of Kelso, pleaded not guilty Monday to second-degree assault and second-degree assault of a child.
Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder scheduled Welch's next hearing for Feb. 2 to potentially set a trial date.
Welch was not in Cowlitz County Jail as of Wednesday.
Court records show a no-contact order was issued on Jan. 21, in which Welch must keep a distance of at least 100 yards from the victim.
However, during Monday's arraignment hearing, Welch's attorney Stephen Geiger of the Cowlitz County Office of Public Defense, requested that his client be permitted to have supervised visitation with the victim. The court plans to review Welch's request for an amended order at the next hearing.
The two assault charges stem from Oct. 22, when a witness heard the 9-year-old screaming for help as she drove by a Kelso home, according to court records.
The victim told the witness Welch had pulled the child's hair and locked the child outside of the home.
Both the responding officers and the witness reported seeing large clumps of hair coming loose from the child's scalp.
Officers took pictures, including of the victim holding a chunk of hair; photos of large clumps of hair scattered on the house's floor; and what appeared to be a bite mark on the child's left arm.
As stated in the arresting document, Welch was described as being "extremely volatile" and drunk. Police noted that she fluctuated between crying and yelling and was unable to give a coherent explanation of what led to the incident.
Officers also reported seeing numerous beer cans throughout the home.
