Woman waves court hearing on child endangerment charge

(Stillwater-AP) -- A Pawnee woman charged with child endangerment for putting her two children in the trunk of her car has waived her right to a preliminary hearing. <br><br>Marcella Kim Stephenson was

Monday, December 15th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Stillwater-AP) -- A Pawnee woman charged with child endangerment for putting her two children in the trunk of her car has waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Marcella Kim Stephenson was charged after an off-duty Stillwater police officer called dispatchers and reported seeing someone put a child in the trunk of a car in the parking lot at a Wal-Mart on August 8th.

Stephenson says she left an opening in the back seat so the two girls could have air while in the trunk.

Police say Stephenson's vehicle was overloaded, with two adults in the front seat of the Honda, five children in the back seat, and the two children in the trunk.

The children ranged in age from 1 to 15 years old and none of them were wearing seat belts, Comstock said.

Stephenson is free on $2,500 bond and is set to appear for trial court arraignment January 16th.