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RIVERTON — A Riverton mother is facing criminal charges accusing her of pinching her daughter to the point that it caused bruising, and putting a blanket over the girl's head to muffle her cries.

Gina Dee Schauerhamer, 27, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony, and assault, a class B misdemeanor.

In May, Schauerhamer allegedly pinched her 3-year-old daughter's arm hard enough to cause a 6-inch bruise, according to charging documents.

"(The girl) also said that Schauerhamer put a 'blankie' on her face, on her mouth, and 'when her mom did that, it was not OK,'" the charges state.

Her husband described hearing "quiet cries" from the girl and said that Schauerhamer "admitted to him that 'covering (the

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