Two indictments have been handed down by a Scotts Bluff County grand jury  that has concluded its investigation into the July 11, 2008 death of two year old Juliette Geurts of Gering. 

KNEB Radio in Scottsbluff reports the indictments filed in Scotts Bluff County District Court by special prosecutor Jim Zimmerman charge the boyfriend of the child’s mother, Dustin Chauncey, with child abuse resulting in death (a penalty of 20 years to life in prison if convicted), involuntary manslaughter (1 to 20 years in prison if convicted) and furnishing false material to authorities to impede their investigation (up to a year in jail if convicted).

The child’s mother Charyse Guerts, is charged with being an accessory to a felony (up to five years in prison if convicted) and furnishing false material to authorities to impede the investigation (up to a year in jail if convicted).

Geurts, Chauncey and another male were in the Gering home when Charyse reported she found Juliette dead in her crib. The case has been investigated as a homicide after the autopsy showed the child died of blunt force trauma.

The grand jury had been meeting since Wednesday of last week. Juliette’s aunt Monica Hall, who had been critical of the investigation, organized a petition drive that was successful in getting enough signatures to convene the grand jury.