David Schmies.
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A week-long trial is underway for a Stevens Point man accused of child abuse in 2021.
David Schmies is facing one count of repeated physical abuse of a child, causing great bodily harm. Investigators say he caused serious injuries to a three-month-old child, who showed a swollen head and poor color when they were hospitalized in December 2021. Doctors later observed multiple broken bones on the child, including some in various stages of healing. Scans also showed bleeding in the child’s brain, an injury consistent with abuse.
The 27-year-old told doctors that the boy had fallen off a bed, but they noted a fall from that height would not have caused the serious injuries presented.
Charges against him carry a maximum of 40 years in prison plus extended supervision.
The case has been in progress since February 2022 and was scheduled for trial several times, including in November 2023, January 2025, and February 2026. A change in Schmies’ legal team forced one delay. Another occurred when his legal team failed to find an expert witness to help build their case.
The case was also paused when Schmies went AWOL in October 2024, causing the judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. He was returned to custody on the warrant in late January 2025 and remains held in the Waupaca County Jail on a half-million-dollar bond.
The trial is scheduled to run through Friday.
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