A Charter Oak couple both plead not guilty to child endangerment charges after three-week old infant dies from serious injuries. According to Crawford County District Court records, 23-year-old Chad Eugene Gibbs Jr. allegedly injured his then two-week-old infant after falling down the stairs and dropping her three to four feet to the ground earlier this year. The child’s mother, 22-year-old Sarah Marie Lembke failed to seek out medical treatment for the child, even after noticing bruising on the baby’s face and her crying regularly for approximately five hours. The infant later died due to the extent of the injuries. Both remain in custody at the Crawford County Jail after motion for a bond review increased bonds to $50,000 for Lembke and $100,000 for Gibbs Jr. A jury trial for Lembke has been scheduled for March 11 at the Crawford County Courthouse. Lembke is currently facing a charge of child endangerment resulting in death, a class B felony. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. Gibbs Jr. is awaiting the scheduling of his trial, and faces charges of murder in the first degree, a class A felony and child endangerment resulting in death, a class B felony. With both charges, Gibbs Jr. could face a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
