A 20-year-old Austin woman who allegedly assaulted a 9-year-old girl pleaded not guilty Thursday in Mower County Court.

DeeDee Mounkghounh pleaded not guilty to three charges: malicious punishment of a child and contributing to the need for child protective services — both gross misdemeanors — and misdemeanor domestic assault.

According to the court complaint, on April 18, police went to the 1300 block of Fourth Street SE after someone heard screaming and yelling and what sounded like spanking or slapping. When officers arrived, they could hear crying after Mounkghounh opened the door. Officers found the 9-year-old lying in a room in the fetal position.

According to the complaint, Mounkghounh admitted to hitting the child and taking her to her room because she was throwing a tantrum and would not sleep.

However, the victim allegedly said Mounkghounh would not let her call her mother, who lives in Iowa.

Mounkghounh allegedly took her into the bathroom, placed her in the tub with her clothes on and ran cold and then hot water over her, the victim claimed. The victim added that Mounkghounh then hit her in the leg, arm and back while the she lay in the tub.

Mounkghounh’s pretrial is set for July 23.