Jennifer Jill Edwards Photo: Courtesy of Del Norte County Sheriff's Office

The preliminary hearing for a Crescent City woman charged with child abuse has been continued to later this month to allow a doctor from the University of California, San Francisco to testify.

Jennifer Jill Edwards, 45, faces a slew of charges, including torture and inflicting great bodily injury on a child under 5 years old in connection with a 4-year-old whose injuries prompted Sutter Coast Hospital doctors to notify social services. The child was transported from Crescent City to the hospital at UCSF on the night of Nov. 7, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Nov. 25.

On Wednesday, Edwards’ attorney, George Mavris, asked visiting judge, Leonard Lacasse, for the preliminary hearing to be continued to Dec. 16. Mavris said both parties wanted “actual testimony” from Dr. James Crawford, of UCSF, who agreed to testify via phone. The defense attorney said he felt that the doctor could give more meaningful information on cross examination.

Prosecuting attorney Todd Zocchi agreed to the defense’s request.

Crescent City Police officers arrested Edwards on Nov. 15. She is charged with torture, child abuse, inflicting great bodily injury on a child under 5 years old, cruelty to an animal, possessing a controlled substance, possession of a smoking device and third-degree criminal storage of a fire arm, according to the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office.

Following Edwards’ arrest, two foster children and her biological child were removed from her home, Griffin told the Outpost.

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