Lack of jurors halts trial

Amy D. Stutzman, 51, Peabody, was scheduled for a four-day trial Monday on a charge of child abuse. A mistrial was declared, and Stutzman’s trial was postponed to January because not enough people could be found to make up a jury.

Of the 100 people who received jury summonses, only 40 returned their jury questionnaires and showed up Monday.

According to the charge, filed Jan. 25, Stutzman beat a 10-year-old child Nov. 22. The charge is a severity level 5 felony. A new pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 23.

Stutzman previously was convicted Sept. 30, 2021, of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She shot a gun at the ground near the feet of three surveyors working for Sunflower Wind farm. She was sentenced to 18 months’ community corrections.

If Stutzman is convicted of child abuse, she could be sentenced to between 50 and 136 months in prison.