BEDFORD – Cherry Blattert was the first defense witness in Lawrence Superior Court I Friday afternoon in her husband Scott Blattert’s trial.
Blattert, of Springville, is facing felony charges of aggravated battery when the assault possesses a substantial risk of death, strangulation, three counts of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and five counts of domestic battery with bodily injury on a person under the age of 14.
Cherry Blattert is also charged in the case. She is facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury and domestic battery. Her court date is pending.
Cherry waived her Fifth Amendment rights before testifying – meaning anything she says could or will be used against her in her criminal case.
Cherry testified that she and Scott now have 11 children. The children are all currently living with two foster families. One family has the couple’s five older children and the other has the couple’s six younger children.
“Religion is very important to use – God is sovereign in all parts of our life,” she said. “He is in control of everything. The Lord is everything. We strictly adhere to the Bible.”
Cherry testified that she reads the Geneva or English Standard Bible daily and reads it from cover to cover every year.
“We homeschool the children. Both of us had horrid experiences in public school. It is important we share our faith and beliefs with our children.”
Cherry testified she strives to be a Godly woman.
“A godly woman loves her children, teaches them about God, teaches good character, is affectionate, teaches kindness to others, is concerned about her children’s wellbeing, and trains them for things in life,” she added. “I made it clear I would like them (the daughters) to be godly women.”
She told the jury they moved from Ellettsville to Springville on Armstrong Road to be closer to the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane base where Scott works as a chemical engineer.
She testified about some of her children’s “disobedience”.
One time the two boys took off and didn’t return when she “blew her whistle to come inside”.
She yelled for them and they didn’t return, she went out and searched for them and couldn’t find them. She began to panic and called Scott to see if she should report them missing. Just after the call they walked into the house.
“The boys were grounded and were not allowed to go outside without me or Scott with them,” she added. “They would be silly and wild and disobey in other ways.”
She talked about her two oldest daughters not singing during hymn time.
“We were getting resistance from (the two older girls) we would all sing Christmas songs or hymns as a family and they would refuse to sing,” she added. “They would discourage the others from singing and we would realize it was just me and Scott singing.”
Cherry testified that Scott is the head of their household.
“The husband is the head of the house. He is the primary provider,” she added. “His responsibility is to protect from physical and spiritual threats. We believe there are influences contrary to God that are harmful to the family. Spirits that can influence the family.”
She then mentioned Ephesians 6
Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Â Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3Â That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4Â And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5Â Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Â Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7Â With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8Â Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9Â And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. 10Â Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Â Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12Â For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Â Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Â Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15Â And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Â Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17Â And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Â Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19Â And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20Â For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21Â But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22Â Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23Â Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Â Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. King James Version.
“We are not dealing with Earthly powers but spiritual forces,” she added. “We are both seeking God’s word. Scott is the head of the household and I respect how he wants to run the home.”
Cherry testified that Scott was strict when it came to discipline but she would not willfully disagree with him.
“We do believe in corporal punishment,” she added.
Her testimony will continue on Monday, May 22 at 8:30 a.m.
