LOGAN — A 48-year-old daycare operator, accused of child abuse, is headed to trial. Craig and Brenda Petith run Brenda’s Day Care in North Logan.
Both defendants appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning in preparation for a three-day jury trial in June. Craig is charged with one count of misdemeanor child abuse while Brenda is charged with two counts.
The defendants, who both have hired their own attorneys, asked the court for their cases to be tried separately. State attorney Barbara Lachmar said she would go along with the request, citing that she had no legal argument to object it.
Judge Brian Cannell said he would allow the separation and scheduled Craig’s one-day jury trial to continue to proceed June 6. Brenda’s trial was set for July 26 and 27.
Police began investigating the couple in December 2016, after receiving a child abuse neglect report from the Division of Child and Family Services. The report alleged multiple incidents of child abuse at Brenda’s Day Care.
Investigators later uncovered evidence that supported the allegation. The Petiths were arrested later that month and booked into the Cache County Jail. Both are currently out of jail after posting bail.