Judge Daugherty refuses to reduce bond by $250,000
The Marquette woman charged with a felony in connection with the death of an infant in her care has pleaded not guilty to the charge in Hamilton County District Court. In a video appearance from the Hamilton County Jail on Thursday, Tiffany Cure, 20, went before Judge Rachael Daugherty for her arraignment on a charge of child abuse resulting in death, which is a Class 1B felony.
In a previous hearing in county court on Sept. 3, Cure waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was automatically bound over to district court for arraignment. Represented by her attorney, Timothy Noerrlinger of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, Cure entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Cure is charged in connection with the death of 3-month-old Stormi Swartz on Aug. 6. Court records say Cure was providing child care for the infant at the time of her death. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home at 107 Lynn Street in Marquette in the afternoon of that date after 911 received a call reporting the child was unresponsive. Following an autopsy and an investigation aided by the Nebraska State Patrol, Cure was arrested on Aug. 22.
Court records indicate the autopsy had revealed “two severe skull fractures had been located along with a subdural hematoma.” Records also indicate that Cure had confessed to officers that she had caused the injuries.
Following the entering of the plea, Noerrlinger made motions for discovery and depositions, both of which were granted by Judge Daugherty. However, a defense motion for a bond reduction was denied.
Bond for Cure had been set at 10 percent of $750,000 in her initial appearance in court, but Noerrlinger asked that the bond be reduced to 10 percent of $500,000, saying that the defendant’s family believed they could raise that much to have her released. Noerrlinger revealed that Cure is pregnant and suffers from MRSA infections and argued that she would not be able to receive proper care for those conditions while in jail.
County Attorney Douglas Dexter told the court the state was in opposition to any bond reduction because of the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s age. However, he indicated he would not oppose a treatment bond. Cure remains in the Hamilton County Jail.