Docs: Farmland woman charged with biting 15-month-old while babysitting

According to court documents recently filed in Randolph County, Melissa Sloniker was charged with one count of battery on a person less than 14 years old when the defendant is 18 or older, a Level 6 felony.

In April 2024, a woman had asked Sloniker to babysit a 15-month-old child. On April 12, 2024, the woman called the Farmland Police Department, alleging that Sloniker had bitten the child on April 10.

The documents claim that the woman had spoken with Sloniker and the two had exchanged texts about the biting incident. Officials said that the child had reportedly bitten another person, which Sloniker said led to her biting the child.

Sloniker reportedly said she bit the child to show the child “what (it) felt like and to stop (the child) from biting other children,” the documents said.

“(Sloniker) also indicated that she had tried every other form of redirection, discipline and behavior modification,” the documents said.

The documents indicate that the child reportedly had bite marks on their arm, including a circular reddish colored mark on the child’s left arm, just above the elbow.

Sloniker’s initial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 24 in Randolph County. Level 6 felonies carry a potential prison sentence between six months and 2.5 years, if found guilty. The person may be fined not more than $10,000 if convicted.