A Palmerton woman has been charged with striking her 5-year-old child in the mouth and knocking a tooth loose.

Alexis Fuda, 34, is charged with assault of a 5-year-old girl on Nov. 22, 2018.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Kevin Buck of the Palmerton Borough Police Department:

Buck interviewed Fuda about the incident on Jan. 18, she adamantly denied striking the girl.

Buck requested Fuda take a polygraph exam. She agreed, but failed to comply.

The 5-year-old was taken for a forensic interview on Feb. 8. She said that Fuda struck her in the mouth and showed that it was done with a closed fist.

As a result, the victim had her tooth knocked loose and suffered a fat lip.

Buck interviewed another person who said that at Thanksgiving, he was told the girl had a loose tooth and a fat lip and that it had occurred as a result of her brother striking her.

The man said the girl told him that Fuda had struck her.

On Feb. 18, Buck interviewed the victim’s 15-year-old sister, who said that on Nov. 22, she was seated in the front room of her mother’s home and could hear her mother screaming at the girl.

She said she looked over and saw the girl seated on the floor crying and holding her mouth as Fuda was leaving the room.

Fuda faces charges of endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and harassment.

She is currently free on $2,500 unsecured bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.