Mother accused of beating, whipping daughters pleads no contest

SHEBOYGAN -- A Sheboygan County mother accused of abusing her daughters has reached a plea deal. 52-year-old Debra Dippel pleaded no contest to two counts of felony child abuse. Dippel is accused of hitting her children using a tennis racket and a tool made to hit a horse.

As part of the plea deal, Dippel must complete a parenting course and have no abusive contact with her kids for the next 18 months.

A criminal complaint in this case says the girls, 11 and 12 years old, told staff at their school about the beatings.

On one day in October, Dippel is accused of hitting the girls with the tennis racket, then shoving the older girl into a closet and closing the door. The younger girl ran into some woods nearby. The complaint says Dippel also acknowledged whipping the girls with a riding quirt.

The Sheboygan Press says the 11-year-old also told investigators her mother once hit her in the face with a kitchen pan. Dippel argues she only lightly spanked her children with the items.