FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A Mannington man accused of disciplining children under his care with a belt to the point it caused bruising, along with other physically harmful punishments, has been indicted on one count of child abuse.
A Marion County grand jury indicted Michael Gernstl, 61, on one count of child abuse resulting in injury after he was arrested back in October 2024.
Gernstl was arrested after a CPS investigation that began in late 2023 found that he allegedly disciplined two of the three children with a belt routinely, which resulted in bruises on their thighs. Wounds that were later confirmed by investigators with photographic evidence.
It was also found that he made the third child in his care stand outside after a bath back in December 2023. Marion County Sheriff’s deputies found out that Gernstl had allegedly made her stand outside for over seven minutes, still damp from her bath.
Gernstl later confirmed to deputies that he used a belt to discipline the children but denied hitting them in the thighs.
Gernstl was held in North Central Regional Jail with a bond set at just over $100,000 at the time of his arrest.