An Ardmore mother and her boyfriend have been indicted for felony child abuse for allegedly spanking her 6-year-old daughter so severely it left bruises on her buttocks and legs, records show.

Melinda Leigh Barnes, 29, and Kevin Bruce Bennett, 32, both of 29775 Elkwood Section Road, were indicted by a Limestone grand jury during the wee k of Nov. 3. The list of those indicted was released Thursday.

A schoolteacher at Ardmore detected the alleged abuse, said Limestone County Chief Investigator Stanley McNatt when the couple was first arrested Sept. 10.

When the girl kept fidgeting in her seat at school, her teacher asked if something was wrong.

“The girl wouldn’t complete her supper meals, so they spanked her and made her sit at the table, sometimes for eight hours at a time,” McNatt said. “The bruising was pretty bad.”

The teacher reported the bruising to the Department of Human Resources, which reported it to the Sheriff’s Department Aug. 31. Limestone Sheriff’s Investigator Leslie Ramsey determined charges were warranted.

“Investigator Ramsey interviewed the 6-year-old and found she indeed had severe bruising on her buttocks and legs,” McNatt said. “The boyfriend had spanked her and also her mother said she had spanked her.”

The two were released from the Limestone County Jail after each posted a $5,000 bond.

The child was removed from the home and placed with the DHR, McNatt said.

During this grand jury session, the following people were indicted on the following felonies:

• Carroll Jacob Campbell, possession/receiving a controlled substance

• Robert Edward Dobbins, first-degree theft by deception

• John William J. Franklin, first-degree theft of property

• Gary Eugene Jones, second-degree theft of property

• Troy Dale Lovell, first-degree criminal mischief

• Stefan Fredrick Martin, first-degree assault

• Richard Cannon McBay, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance

• Jerry Deen Moore, possession of a controlled substance

• Smokey Glenn Summers Jr., second-degree theft of property

• Keith Elmo Taylor, first-degree theft of property

• Thomas Stephen Williams, second-degree theft by deception

• Margaret Elle Armstrong, fraudulent use of a credit or debit card

• Bradley Joe Austelle, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime

• Tammy Rena Austelle, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime

• Jodie Earl Banks, first-degree theft of property

• Wallace Gene Brooks, possession/receiving a controlled substance

• Loney Wayne Davis, breaking/entering a vehicle

• Elizabeth Anne Dement, second-degree theft of property

• Todd Carson England, second-degree theft of property

• John William J. Franklin, second-degree theft of property

• Carlos Gonzales, second-degree assault

• Timothy Dewayne Horton, third-degree burglary

• Steven Wayne Ivey, second-degree theft of property

• Toney Lee Kelley, first-degree theft of property

• Ahcelmo Alonso Lorenz, second-degree receiving stolen property

• Jason Brantley Lorenza, third-degree burglary

• Lucas Duane McGuire, second-degree theft of lost property

• Robert Todd Scheffler, obstructing justice

• Verna Jean Stephens, title obtained by fraudulent means

• Shaun Joseph Turner, third-degree burglary

• Connie Renee White, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime

• Dale Monte Whitehurst, second-degree theft of property

• Justin Tyler Widner, second-degree theft of property

• Tracy Ann Wright, second-degree possession of a forged instrument

• Kevin Robert Cline, first-degree assault

• Charles Aria Creasy, third-degree burglary

• Brittany Shanta Hodge, third-degree burglary

• Ronnie Dewayne Pullum, possession of controlled substance

• Angela Nicole Swanner, promoting prison contraband

• Ralph Donald Taylor, second-degree theft by deception

• Sonny Eugene Tucker, third-degree burglary

• Heather Diane Turner, promoting prison contraband

• Michael Steven Woodard, possession of a firearm

• Angela Ruth Green, possession/receiving a controlled substance

• Stephanie Dawn McMullins, possession of a controlled substance

• Richard Kevin Thompson, possession/receiving a controlled substance

• Allen Michael Martin, second-degree assault

• Larry Joe Gabhart, first-degree possession of marijuana

• Sammy Paul Hoback, possession of cocaine

• Susan Elaine Lamar, possession of a controlled substance

• Carla Jean McConnell, possession of a controlled substance

• Jonathan David Luna, possession of a controlled substance

• Mark Edward Roberts, possession of a controlled substance

• Ashley Nichole Shelnutt, second-degree assault

• Brandon Keith Simmons, possession of a controlled substance

• Latasha Denise Toney, possession of a controlled substance

• Dustin Cory Wallace, possession of a controlled substance

• Jackie Lynn Watkins, possession of a controlled substance

• Paul Douglas Sanders, second-degree domestic violence

• Birdie Whitt Bigham, possession of a controlled substance

• William Fred Carter, possession of a controlled substance

• Jennifer M. Medeiros, possession of a controlled substance

• Elaine B. McCormick, possession of a controlled substance

• Maurice Lamonte Sears, possession of a controlled substance

• Charles Morgan Thornton, possession/receiving a controlled substance

• Timothy Wayne Worthy, possession of a controlled substance