Kelly Lewis (Hamilton County Jail).

Kelly Lewis, aged 52, is now facing a felony charge of child endangerment. According to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the alleged abuse took place from April to August at her residence in Cheviot. School staff observed signs of malnourishment in the boy and promptly informed Hamilton County Job and Family Services.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the child had lost approximately 14% of his body weight, necessitating an extended hospital stay lasting nearly a month. Reports indicate that the boy was found scavenging for food in trash cans and drinking dishwater. Prosecutors have condemned Lewis’s alleged conduct as a “severe violation of trust.”

In court, Lewis’s lawyer highlighted her lengthy history as a foster parent since 2007, noting that she is also responsible for a 14-year-old. The attorney explained that the boy had multiple health challenges, including seizures, and is nonverbal. The defense claimed Lewis was adhering to a nutritionist’s guidance by providing the child with specific protein shakes.

Lewis was apprehended on Wednesday morning and subsequently held at the Hamilton County Jail with bond set at $50,000, which she posted by Thursday afternoon. Court records stipulate that she must wear an ankle monitor and is prohibited from contacting the boy.

Lewis was arrested Wednesday morning and taken to the Hamilton County Jail on a $50,000 bond which she posted on Thursday afternoon, according to records. The defendant will be wearing an ankle monitor and cannot contact the victim.

“Stay away from that kid,” Judge Bernie Bouchard reportedly told Lewis.

Authorities have not provided an update on the condition of the boy.

She has a court date scheduled for Nov. 17.