Belington woman faces child abuse charges after using ‘the attitude adjuster’

BELINGTON, W.Va. — A 32-year old Belington woman is facing charges after troopers with the West Virginia State Police said she hit her child with paddles she named “the attitude adjuster.”

Five minor children under the care of Courtney Crites, 32, were interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and she beat them, kicked them and yelled at them.

One of the children told troopers Crites kicked him the privates on one occasion when he did not put theclothes away properly. He added that Crites pushed outside in cold weather before letting him in, then hitting with the paddle and breaking it.

The male child said when Crites was angry she kicked him when she walked by and was cared at the prospect of going back to stay with her.

Crites has been charged with three counts of child abuse creating risk of injury and is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond.