NORWICH – A couple living in Norwich pleaded guilty to assault charges on Monday after they admitted to beating a child under 11-years-old requiring a trip to Chenango Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room.

Marraine L. Ray, 31, of Norwich and Scott J. Ray, 36, of Norwich both pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, a class D felony, following a complaint from Chenango County's Child Protective Services that a child had been abused.

In return for their pleas, both Rays received a split-sentence of six months in jail with five years of probation.

On Friday, the couple admitted that between July 1 and July 7, they worked together to cause serious physical injury to a victim under 11-years-old by striking the victim repeatedly on the head with a plastic brush, and striking the victim in the face and throwing the victim into a wall by the hair.

According to a court document, the assault, "...caused the victim to receive a serious physical injury consisting of a brain bleed along with multiple contusions to (their) face, head, and body."