Ellensburg couple arrested on alleged child abuse

ELLENSBURG—An Ellensburg man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly beating his girlfriend's 4-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son several times over the past two weeks. The girlfriend also was arrested.

Reuben Mulamba, 27, of Ellensburg faces two counts of second-degree child assault and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Ashly Eli, of Ellensburg, faces two counts of second-degree criminal mistreatment. The couple may face additional charges upon further medical examination of the children, according to a news release from the Ellensburg Police Department. 

As of Wednesday morning, the 4-year-old girl was in critical condition and the 8-year-old boy was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Both children have lacerations, bruises and infected wounds.

The girl is suffering internal bleeding and her kidneys aren't functioning properly, said Kittitas County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Herion during the couple's first appearance hearing in Kittitas County Superior Court Wednesday.

Police were notified of the abuse Tuesday after Eli went to ASPEN, an organization in Ellensburg that assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Eli admitted to investigators that Mulamba hit the children with a belt all over their bodies up to 20 times when they misbehaved, Herion said in court. Eli told investigators Mulamba also pinched the children with a pair of pliers, struck them with wood and an electrical cord, Herion said.

In a statement given to police, Mulamba admitted to spanking the children with a phone charging cord, Heroin said, and to pinching the children with his fingers, but not with a pair of pliers.

Eli admitted to police that she intentionally failed to take the children to the hospital out of fear of getting the police and Child Protective Services involved, according to the EPD news release and statements read in court. Eli has an active nursing assistant certification that was issued in September, according to information on the Washington State Department of Health's website.

The couple and the children moved to Ellensburg in late 2011 or early this year. At the time of his arrest by Ellensburg police officers Tuesday, Mulamba was out on bail for a case pending in Grant County. According to documents filed in Grant County Superior Court, Mulamba is charged with second-degree burglary and third-degree theft for allegedly stealing two video game controllers worth about $55 apiece from the Moses Lake Walmart. Eli drove the getaway car, according to court documents.

On Jan. 13 Ellensburg police officers responded to a domestic dispute at the couple's home on North Walnut Street in Ellensburg, at which time Mulamba told police he was upset with Eli because she didn't discipline her kids, Herion said.

Then on Tuesday the couple were arrested for the alleged abuse, which investigators believe took place over the past two weeks. Both children were taken into protective custody by EPD detectives and turned over Child Protective Services.

Superior Court Judge Scott Sparks found probable cause to charge the couple with assault and criminal mistreatment. Sparks set Mulamba's bail at $1 million and Eli's bail at $750,000. Both are scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Feb. 13.

— Ellensburg Record