2 charged, child left in apartment with stove on

[jnelsoninjax]

A woman whose 3-year-old daughter allegedly was left alone in an apartment with a loaded handgun and a burning stove was charged with criminal endangerment Thursday, a day after her boyfriend was charged in the same case.

At Jessica Danielle Henderson?s initial court appearance, Missoula County Justice of the Peace John Odlin set bail at $50,000 and ordered her not to have any contact with either her boyfriend or her daughter. The girl has been placed in the custody of family members, under the supervision of the Child and Family Services Division.

On Wednesday, Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech ordered Henderson?s boyfriend, 21-year-old Zachary B. Sutton, held on $100,000 bail on the same charge.

The two were arrested after police were called to a Cooper Street apartment Tuesday on a noise complaint, according to charging documents filed by Deputy Missoula County Attorney Shaun Donovan. Officers found the 3-year-old girl sleeping in the apartment. The door was open, and apparently had been kicked in, according to Donovan?s affidavit.

Inside, a smoldering paper bag ?nearing combustion? had been left on a hot burner and a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun was on the kitchen counter within reach of the child, the affidavit said.

Sutton was located nearby, but attempted to flee the apartment after a brief discussion with officers, it said. In addition to felony criminal endangerment, Sutton was charged with misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.

Henderson, 21, was located at a local hospital, where she was being treated for a laceration to the back of the head, the affidavit said. She denied having a relationship with Sutton, although witnesses told officers Sutton and Henderson had been staying ?intermittently? together at the apartment, it said.

Henderson was booked into the Missoula County jail shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Felony criminal endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.

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