Puna woman charged after slapping daughter

Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 30-year-old Kathleen Ann Clemons of Kea‘au, for abusing her child following an incident on Oct. 24 on Old Māmalahoa Highway in Kea‘au.

Around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a report after a witness observed Clemons outside a business with two small female children. She was seen verbally belittling her five-year-old daughter with derogatory remarks after Clemons herself dropped food on the ground.

Clemons then slapped the child twice, knocking the little girl to the ground. The child sustained visible injuries to the left side and back of her head.

She was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where she was treated as a precautionary measure and released.

The five-year-old victim, and her three-year-old sister who witnessed the incident, were taken into protective custody for their safety, and are currently under the care of Child Welfare Services.

On Oct. 25, at 2:30 p.m., after conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, Area I Juvenile Aid Section detectives charged Clemons with two counts of felony abuse of a family household member and her bail was set at $4,000.

Clemons’ remains in custody and is scheduled to make her initial court appearance Oct. 26, in Hilo Family Court.