A Mountain Home woman, already facing charges in a child abuse case, appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last Monday newly accused of possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The abuse case involving 30-year-old Christina Potts was filed in early June last year. She is accused of beating a five-year-old child with a belt.
She has entered not guilty pleas to both cases.
Potts told investigators she had lost control and struck the youngster with the belt, causing severe and extensive bruising along the child’s back, legs and arms.
In a late May 2022 interview, Potts said the children in her home did not listen to her and she had found herself unable to control them.
When investigators offered to show her photos of the child’s injuries, Potts was reported to have said she did not want to see them, but knew, “they were bad.”
A preschool staff member reported the incident to the Arkansas Department of Human Services after seeing the injuries to the child.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incident last year was not the first case where injuries to children in Potts’ care have been reported to DHS.
The affidavit says “multiple similar reports” involving one of more of Potts’s children have been submitted to DHS.
It was also reported that Potts is involved in an active court case with DHS concerning the children. Electronic court records show her next appearance is set for late this month.
In the child abuse case, Potts is charged with 2nd degree domestic battery and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Her new case stems from an arrest January 23. Potts was taken into custody along with a male companion when officers went to an address along Timberlane Road to conduct a home visit.
A search of the bedroom occupied by Potts and 39-year-old Jonathan David Thurman turned up a substance suspected of being methamphetamine, along with small plastic bags that are used to package and sell the drug and a set of digital scales.
Thurman remains in the Baxter County jail with bond set at $2,500. Potts is listed as having been released after posting bond.
Both Potts and Thurman are charged with possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia used to ingest the drug.
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