Orange City, Iowa — A defense attorney has asked for more time before a pretrial conference for one of two Hawarden people facing felony charges of child endangerment.
According to Sioux County Jail records, 35-year-old Matthew Spaans and 33-year-old Nina Spaans face several charges. Nina Spaans faces one count of Abandonment or Neglect of a Dependent Person, a class C felony; and three counts of Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury, a class D felony.
She filed “not guilty” pleas to the charges.
A pretrial conference had been set for Nina Spaans for Monday, May 1st, with a jury trial scheduled for July 18th on the charges. According to court records, a defense attorney has asked for the pretrial conference to be continued.
The original charges were filed because authorities believe Matthew Spaans abused his 11-year-old stepson, causing injuries and that Nina Spaans told the boy to make up stories about how the injuries were received.
