MONROE — A Monroe woman on deferred prosecution from a charge of felony elderly abuse in 2024 now faces additional charges in Green County Circuit Court for felony abuse of a child, following a May 13 ordeal.

If convicted, the woman, Sonya M. Baugus, now 38, could potentially face more than a decade of prison time.

According to court records and criminal complaints, the alleged 2026 child abuse case, resulted from a loud verbal incident on May 13 in which a concerned woman could hear a female yelling ‘no, no” from near Highlander Mall, in the 700 block of 10th Avenue in Monroe. As they could also hear yelling from inside their police cruisers, responding police then tracked the source to a residence nearby on 12th Avenue, where the defendant allegedly punched a victim in the face “with a closed fist” multiple times, the criminal complaint alleges.

According to the criminal complaint, (the witness) said Sonya at one point “put her hand down my dog’s throat’.”

“(The witness) told Sonya to stop mistreating (the) dog, and when she wouldn’t, (the witness) told Sonya to leave. ... (He) stated Sonya was very intoxicated, and had been consuming intoxicating beverages throughout the day.”

The same witness further explained Sonya “left his residence on foot, and went to a bar.”

She called him later and came back to the 12th Avenue location and the witness/complainant said the defendant became violent, according to the complaint. She allegedly slapped him and threatened to involve children in the incident that also resulted in charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and felony bail jumping.

At one point, “after striking (witness) in the head, Sonya became increasingly argumentative towards (witness), now telling him her kids weren’t going with him. This continued until (another Monroe officer), and I, arrived on scene...”

Another officer reported the defendant allegedly slapped or struck one of the underage victims at one point “7 times” and that he tried to get away from her by getting in a witness’ car in her driveway. That violent outburst, police allege, resulted in him “sustaining injuries to his head, and facial areas.”

That victim was taken to SSM Monroe Clinic for evaluation, though his injuries were not considered life threatening. The defendant was taken to the ER too, according to the complaint, but she allegedly continued her outbursts.

“Sonya also verbally threatened medical staff saying, ‘If you come near me, I swear to God I kick all of you (expletive) in the face’,” said the complaint.

In the 2024 case, officers were dispatched to Monroe’s Leisure Lanes for a reported disturbance, according to court documents. The victim was arguing with another bar patron celebrating their 60th birthday, records allege. Some time that evening, an argument ensued — allegedly over the defendants’ children and she allegedly became violent with the birthday patron, smashing a drink glass into their face.

She then apparently fled, with no sign of the suspect in the bowling alley parking lot.

“I arrived on scene at approximately 6:08 p.m., and upon entering the bar area of Leisure Lanes observed a female at the bar actively bleeding from a laceration on the bridge of her nose...,” said the complaint... “The (female victim) ... I observed her left cheek and eye socket appeared to be swollen...”

Police caught up and eventually arrested Baugus at her 12th Avenue home, where she was reportedly sobbing on the front steps when they arrived, complaining that the victim was “running her mouth” about her children.

In the 2026 case, the defendant is scheduled to appear again in court at 2 p.m. June 2 for a preliminary hearing on five counts. Bond in the case was set at $5,000 on May 18.

In the 2024 case, the defendant was sentenced and a deferred prosecution agreement entered after Baugus was found guilty by no contest pleas of misdemeanor bail jumping and battery. The felony charges elder abuse, intentionally cause bodily harm, was dispatched with a 12-month deferred prosecution agreement, according to court records.

And a motion hearing on that older case is also set for 2 p.m. — both proceedings will be before Circuit Judge Faun M. Phillipson.