Mother accused of strapping 9-year-old son to roof of van pleads not guilty

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (CBS 58) – A Fredonia mother appears willing to try to explain why she allegedly strapped her son to the roof of her van.

On Tuesday, Amber Schmunk’s attorney entered a not guilty plea for her client.

The 28-year-old mother is accused of strapping her 9-year-old to the roof of a van to help hold down a plastic pool.

She’s now facing a charge of second degree recklessly endangering safety. The criminal complaint says Schmunk said her son was only on the roof for around 20-30 seconds before she took him down. She said she didn’t see anything wrong with it because her father allowed her to do similar things when she was a kid.

Schmunk’s attorney says her client is facing a very, very serious charge.

“I am very certain that throughout the trial process that the jurors will see Ms. Schmunk as I do which is a very loving, a very selfless and a very devoted mother,” said Schmunk’s attorney, Rachel Boaz.

Schmunk will be back in court on January 16.