JEFFERSON COUNTY — After one day of evidence and testimony Thursday that included testimony from the defendant’s former co-defendant, parties agreed to continue the bench trial of a 19-year-old Mt. Vernon male for battery of an infant until next week.

The case accusing Tyrone “EJ” Steele and 21-year-old Abagail Adkins of the 2017 battery to an infant that caused the child permanent disability has been a series of stops and starts.

The pair was arrested in April 2017 and each charged with the Class X felony offense. They have both remained in the Jefferson County Jail since that time with bail set at $250,000 each.

Until recently, Adkins and Steele were co-defendants who were going to be tried together in a bench trial.
However, proceedings were halted after the first day last month that included testimony from St. Louis physician Dr. Timothy Kutz who specializes in the assessment of suspected child abuse.

Steele requested the case severed and that he and Adkins be tried separately. It was agreed that Steel would be tried starting October 11 and Adkins starting October 15.

Then after one day of testimony Thursday in Steele’s bench trial, it was agreed the proceedings would be continued until October 19.

Prosecution witnesses testifying Thursday included Steele’s former co-defendant Adkins. Her bench trial remains scheduled at this time for Monday.