A Scott City woman has been charged in the death of a three-month-old boy.
Marilyn Hoffman, 26, made her first appearance in Scott County District Court on felony counts of first degree murder and abuse of her child, Xavier Hoffman.
In reading the charges to the defendant, Judge Jim Collins said the incident occurred on or about July 10. According to Gavin Young, a media spokesman with the Kansas Attorney General’s office, the child was flown to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita for life-threatening injuries on Saturday and died Tuesday morning.
Hoffman was arrested Sunday in Wichita and transported to Scott City where she remains in custody.
During Wednesday’s court appearance, which lasted less than 15 minutes, all parties agreed to a preliminary hearing date of Aug. 2, 10:10 a.m., before District Judge Philip Vieux. However, the public defender’s request that bond be reduced from $250,000 was denied.
Public Defender Therese Hartnett told the court her client had “strong community ties” and was “no danger to the community.” According to Hartnett, her client’s only prior criminal history was a conviction for misdemeanor theft.
“If bond is set low enough she may be able to post it,” said Hartnett.
Scott County Attorney John Shirley felt that “given the nature of these crimes a bond of $250,000 is appropriate.”
Judge Collins agreed and refused to lower the bond. Hoffman is being held in the Scott County Jail.