Daycare owner's assailant arraignment postponed

Accused assailants Francis Jackson and Tashinia Elida Schlensker appeared before Lake County District Court Judge James A. Manley with public defenders. While Schlensker officially pleaded not guilty, Jackson's attorney asked for more time before their official arraignments.

Jackson and Schlensker were represented by different attorneys. Jackson's attorney was assigned his client's case the night before and needed more time to meet with him before arraignment could continue.

Each accused prisoner was seen separately. Both are now in custody at Lake County Detention Center.

Schlenkser turned herself into to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell Oct. 16 after she was identified as the unknown woman who is allegedly responsible for hitting a Ronan daycare owner with a snow shovel Oct 7.

A warrant for Schlensker’s arrest was issued Oct. 14. 

Lake County prosecutors said that Schlensker and her boyfriend Francis Jackson arrived at Martha’s Mini Daycare in Ronan and attempted to pick up Jackson’s three biological children under age four, that were at the daycare center, a Lake County Court affidavit said. 

But the daycare owner, who met Jackson knew his parental custody rights were suspended by Tribal Services, and refused to give him the children. 

Jackson also smelled of alcohol, the affidavit said.

Enraged, Jackson yelled at the woman and threatened to assault her, the records said.

The daycare owner was able to get Jackson out of her building and lock him out even though he told her repeatedly that he could take his kids.

Once outside, Jackson went to the front of the daycare center and began throwing toys into the picture window of the building in an attempt to re-enter the facility, the affidavit said.

One of those toys was a tricycle, records said.

The owner went outside to defend her children with a snow shovel. And that is when Jackson turned his threats into an assault and began assaulting the woman.

Prosecutors believe that during their struggle, Jackson punched the employee which caused her to lose control of the shovel.

That is when Schlensker picked up the shovel and hit the daycare owner in the face, the affidavit said.  

The victim then fell to the ground. 

Jackson and Schlensker fled the scene in a vehicle, the affidavit said.

The victim was transported to St. Luke’s Community Hospital for treatment of her injuries. She received severe facial bruising, the affidavit said. 

Schlensker is being held at Lake County Jail and appeared before Lake County Justice Court Judge Randal Owens Oct. 19 where she was read her rights and assigned a public defender. Jackson appeared before Randal via video from Pend Oreille County.