Former Two Rivers teacher convicted of sex with a student in 2023 faces new child abuse charge

MANITOWOC – Rebecca Chewning, formerly Rebecca Kilps, is facing a felony charge of child abuse in Manitowoc County Circuit Court.

Chewning, 37 of Manitowoc, is a former Spanish teacher from Two Rivers High School who was convicted of two misdemeanor charges of sexual intercourse with a child 16 or older in January 2023.

She was arrested May 27 on suspicion of slapping her 4-year-old child.

According to a criminal complaint, a "red mark" on the child's face was reported to the Manitowoc Police Department by the child's father, who is not married to Chewning.

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The document describes a photo taken of the child's face that shows redness on their left cheek and finger-shaped red markings and bruises near their left eye and temple.

In the complaint, the father told police he saw the injury after picking the child up from Chewning's residence and when he asked the child about it, they said "Momma hit me."

The complaint states the child "then went on to tell (their father) that Rebecca had slapped him in the face while he was on the toilet, and that he had fallen off of the toilet as a result of the slap."

In an interview with police, Chewning said the child was screaming and she "'just lost it' and slapped him," according to the complaint.

The document also states Chewning told police she didn't tell the child's father about the injury because he had been threatening to file for a new child custody agreement and she didn't trust him.

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The complaint also describes a text message from Chewning to her husband that read: "I slapped (the child) across the face tonight and have felt like the biggest failure ever since. I am reading the book right now, just so you know. I have to do better."

Chewning has been charged with one felony count of child abuse and is in custody at Manitowoc County Jail. She is expected to appear in court July 11 for a preliminary hearing before Judge Jerilyn Dietz.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Angelina R. Scarpelli. Attempts to contact Chewning's listed attorney, Kirk Obear, for comment prior to publication were not successful.

Why we cover courts: This report is part of the Herald Times Reporter's mission to fulfill our obligation to follow criminal cases from arrest to their conclusion. The aim is to shine a light on the criminal justice process so readers can see how publicly funded law enforcement and courts function.

Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Former Two Rivers teacher convicted of sex with student charged with child abuse