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Couple Accused Of Burning Boy With Cigarettes Ordered To Stand Trial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A local mother accused of burning her 2-year-old son with cigarettes while her boyfriend watched was in court Tuesday morning.

Anna Russell and her boyfriend, Enrique Soto, were held for trial on all charges.

Police say the incident happened back on Aug. 1 at Russell's apartment in the 300-block of Dorothy Street in East Pittsburgh.

Russell and Soto are accused are of burning their 19-month-old son 15 times with a cigarette.

During Tuesday's hearing, a doctor from Children's Hospital testified she found intentional and reckless burns on the child's face, neck, chest and back.

The couple didn't testify, but one of their attorneys defended their claim that the marks were from bug bites.

"Even my clients' grandmother basically said they took him with the understanding that he had been bit or something along those lines, and that's why she took him to the hospital in the first place," said defense attorney Veronica Brestensky.

Soto's mother says she has proof from CYF that the charges are unfounded.

"I got a big stack of papers right here from CYF," said Norma Lowery, Soto's mother. "His copy, her copy, everything, saying everything is unfounded."

enrique-soto
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

But, according to Allegheny County Police, the couple's 3-year-old daughter told a CYF caseworker that her mother burned her brother. The girl also told police that Soto watched and laughed.

"He's not a monster; neither is she, neither one of them," said Lowrey. "They are loving parents. They take care of their kids."

"The 3-year-old was interviewed very close in time to when the original accusations were made. At that point in time, she did not say, 'Mom did this.' She didn't say anybody did this," said Brestensky.

Russell's attorney claims the child did not tell authorities that her mother burned her brother until January when she was in foster care.

anna-russell
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Ultimately, a jury will decide the source of the marks.

Soto and Russell face a number of charges, including aggravated assault, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child.

Soto is jailed $250,000 straight bond. Russell's bond is set at $150,000.

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