Milwaukee, Wis. – A Wisconsin man initially accused of tossing a 1-year-old girl from a second-floor balcony has had his child abuse case dismissed, after prosecutors cited concerns about the credibility of his accuser.
Charges Dropped Against Jaimann Eiland
Jaimann Eiland, 32, was charged in March with substantial battery with a domestic abuse modifier and child abuse after his stepdaughter claimed he threw the baby during an argument. Eiland reportedly told police that he and the child’s mother, 25-year-old Shakira Walters, got into a “tug-of-war” with the girl that led to her falling from the balcony.
Walters told police Eiland had dangled the baby before dropping her onto the lawn. However, prosecutors say that account unraveled in court when other family members disputed her version of events.
Prosecution Cites “Evidentiary Limitations”
In court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Hasle moved to dismiss the child abuse charge, telling the judge that there were significant credibility issues with the accuser.
“While [Walters] alleges the defendant intentionally threw the baby off the porch, multiple other witnesses, including her own family members, present a contradiction to her account,” Hasle said.
Accuser Now Facing Charges
Adding to the doubts surrounding Walters’ allegations, she is now facing her own child abuse charges. In April, Walters was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse to intentionally cause harm after allegedly hitting her 8- and 10-year-old brothers with a belt.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Walters admitted to police:
“I came in and whooped his butt.”
“I use the belt for them. It ain’t like, I mean, I picked up a broom stick or something.”
Walters was released on a signature bond and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Dec. 5.
Eiland Pleads to Lesser Charges
Although the child abuse charge was dropped, Eiland pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor battery and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation, with credit for 159 days already served while awaiting trial.
Conclusion
The case highlights how shifting witness testimony and credibility concerns can dramatically alter the outcome of serious child abuse allegations. With Walters now facing charges of her own, prosecutors ultimately determined they could not move forward against Eiland on the original accusations.
Do you think prosecutors made the right call in dismissing the case against Eiland? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
