Natasha Hunt and Amara Burns (inset) via the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office
A 24-year-old mother in Wisconsin has been sentenced for livestreaming footage of herself physically abusing her 2-year-old son, “violently” pulling the child’s hair as he cried for help. Marinette County Circuit Court Judge Jane M. Sequin on Tuesday ordered Natasha L. Hunt to serve a sentence of 1 year in jail and three years of probation after she agreed to plead guilty to one count of child abuse — intentionally causing harm, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Sequin, who credited Hunt with 313 days already served, also stayed an additional sentence of two years in prison, which Hunt will only be required to serve if she violates the terms of her probation. A charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed after Hunt pleaded guilty.
Another woman, 26-year-old Amara Burns, was also arrested in connection with the instance of abuse. Authorities said Burns kicked one of the officers on the scene. Records show she was convicted of battery to a police officer and sentenced to three years on probation.
Police said the abuse took place on Aug. 24, 2023, in Niagara, Wisconsin.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers with the Niagara Police Department first learned about the video — which had already been making its way around several social media platforms — when they were contacted by both the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and the Iron Mountain Police Department.
Police described the video in the affidavit.
“In the video, (Hunt) approached Amara and (the victim),” the document states. “(Hunt) grabbed (the victim) by the hair and began to pull violently, (Hunt) was pulling (the victim’s) head in multiple directions. (Hunt) was looking at the camera with an angry look on her face. (The victim) was saying ‘OW’ repeatedly and began to cry.”
Burns can be seen putting her hands up in the air watching Hunt, police said. While Burns is not seen attempting “assist” in the pulling of the child’s hair, police noted that she was holding the child “in her lap while (Hunt) committed the physical pain to (the victim)” and she “did not make any attempt to stop (Hunt).”
After a short period, the video shows Hunt pausing from pulling the victim’s hair for a “brief moment before she goes back to it.
“Then she began pulling (the victim)’s hair again to the point that she pulled (the victim) off Amara’s lap and out of the picture. I could hear (the victim) saying ‘OW’ and crying,” the document states. “You can see Natasha moving around as if she was still pulling (the victim)’s hair. Amara looked in the direction of where this incident was occurring and looked back at the camera, smiling. She again did not attempt to stop Natasha from harming (the victim).”
After viewing the footage, police questioned the two women, both of whom denied knowing anything about Hunt’s son being abused, police said. They even went so far as to deny posting anything on social media that day. When police took them into custody, Burns kicked one of the arresting officers.
The terms of Hunt’s probation include having no contact with Burns, not entering any bars or liquor stores, not using drugs or having contact with drug dealers, and not having contact with any child under age 18 unless an agent of the court recommends such contact. She will also be required to complete a mental health assessment and a parenting course while maintaining full employment.
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