Expert Located to Assist in Shelby County Child Battery Case

An expert has been secured to assist the defense in the Shelby County case of Devan Porter of Cowden.

The 19-year-old Porter has been charged with aggravated battery of a child. The count stems from injuries sustained by his child when the infant was just 12 days old. The incident occurred last fall.

Progress in the case has been slowed while the defense attempted to secure the services of an expert witness. 

Porter is next due in court for a pre-trial hearing on July 5. His trial is set to begin August 14.

The child's mother, 20-year-old Kayla Girard of Cowden, is also charged with aggravated battery to a child. Girard is next due in court on July 3.

Porter and Girard are each being held in Shelby County Jail in Shelbyville on $100,000 bond.