‘Teen Mom’ star faces battery, neglect charges

Associated Press

ANDERSON, Ind.

Prosecutors in central Indiana have filed felony domestic battery and child neglect charges against a star of the MTV reality show “Teen Mom.”

Anderson police began investigating 20-year-old Amber Portwood after a September episode showed her slapping, choking and kicking the 24-year-old father of her daughter.

Portwood was arrested Monday and jailed under a 24-hour hold until Tuesday afternoon.

Detective Mitch Carroll tells The Herald Bulletin that the child neglect charges stem from Portwood’s then-1-year-old daughter being present during two filmed instances of domestic violence.

The Associated Press left a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday at the office of Portwood’s attorney, Robert Schembs.

Anne Houseworth of the Indiana Department of Child Services said dozens of viewers called the state’s child-abuse hotline to report Portwood’s outbursts.