Husband faces felony rape, child abuse

Vaughn’s wife told sheriff’s deputies her husband had beaten her several times, punching her in the stomach, face and head.

The woman said she wasn’t able to call for help right away because her husband wouldn’t allow it. She told investigators she would’ve gone to her neighbors for help but couldn’t because they were her husband’s relatives.

Sheriff Byrd said Vaughn was charged with felony rape for allegedly sexually assaulting his wife. In addition, he’s accused of punching the couple’s 9-month-old daughter.

Also investigating the child abuse allegations are officials with the state Department of Human Services. The couple’s child was turned over the care of her great-grandmother pending the mother’s recovery.

Vaughn remained jailed Tuesday in Jackson County.

Child abuse case review ongoing
May 7, 2009 5:24 AM ET
FOREST, Miss. (AP) - Prosecutors say they are still developing a case to present a grand jury involving the 2008 death of a 14-month-old girl.
Nicole Demeteria Hill and Willie James Holifield, both of Forest, are free on bond. They are each charged with murder and child abuse in the death of Hill's daughter, Tykiriah McClendon.
District Attorney Mark Duncan says the case is still under review and has not been presented to a Scott County grand jury. A new grand jury meets in August.
Authorities say the child was brought to Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest in October with multiple injuries including a fractured skull. She was transported to University Medical Center in Jackson where she later died.

Four charged in child abuse case
By ROBIN FITZGERALD - rfitzgerald@sunherald.com
JACKSON COUNTY — Four members of a rural Ocean Springs family have been charged with felony child abuse of an 18-month-old girl and one suspect also is charged with sexual battery.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd identified James J. Hill Jr., 20, as the suspect charged with sexual battery. He identified the others as Tasha Hill, 18, James J. Hill Sr., 38, and Pamela K. Hill, 36.
Byrd said the child abuse charges stem from an accusation that the other three were aware that Hill Jr. had sexually assaulted the child but remained silent.

Child Abuse Arrest

Meridian
Posted: 2:45 PM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 7:23 PM Jul 2, 2008
Reporter: Andrea Williams

19-year-old Paul Harris is facing a charge of felony child abuse involving his 4-month-old daughter.

According to family members of the 4-month-old, the abuse was discovered when the child's mother picked her up from staying the night with the father, who is the accused in the case. With her going in and out of conscousness, they say the child was immediately taken to a Meridan hospital and then transporteed to a hospital in Jackson where she had fractured ribs, bruises to the face, legs and back and bleeding to the brain.

"In this particular case it doesn't appear that it will be hard to prove. Prior to the baby being taken to the biological father's residence, the mother of the child was leaving one of the local clinic's where the child was having a check up and was in good shape. It's evident by that whatever happened to the child happened while the father had custody of the child," says Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose.

So far, investigators say the suspect has not given a statement in the case. Bond for Harris has been set at 15-thousand dollars and his case is expected to go before a grand jury in November. A conviction for felony child abuse can result in up to 20 years in prison.

As for the condition of the baby, investigators say she was recently released from the hospital and still on medication to treat swelling to the brain. Despite this Chief Dubose says...

"I was told that they expect a full recovery," says Dubose.

JACKSON, Miss. — A college business professor who allegedly punished one of his children by covering the boy with ants and putting pepper juice in his eyes has been sentenced to two years in prison for child abuse.

Hinds County Circuit Judge L. Breland Hilburn sentenced Alcorn State University professor Festus Oguhebe on Monday to five years in prison with three years suspended and two to serve.

Oguhebe, a Byram resident, pleaded no contest in October to one count of child abuse. With a no contest plea, a defendant is not admitting guilt, but is not contesting the charges.

The judge allowed Oguhebe to remain free on bond until Jan. 5.

Oguhebe, a native of Nigeria, was arrested in March 2005 on five counts of felony child abuse, stemming from the bizarre punishment methods he allegedly used on his 11-year-old son.

The punishment included “placing him in a bathtub, then putting hot pepper juice in his eyes, on his penis and buttocks; and also by tying his hands behind his back and covering his body with ants,” according to court records.

Oguhebe had maintained that he used punishments that were customary in his native Africa

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Copywrite and Fair Use information

Who to Contact in Congress

Per US laws, anyone accused of or arrested for a crime is innocent by law until which time he or she is convicted in a court of law.

Please email admin at defend_children@yahoo.com if you wish to join or to correspond with us. Also if you would like to give suggestions or ask questions please email usat defendthechildren@live.com Thank you

Please note We are not affiliated with and we do not endorse www.defendchildren.com
We are www.DefendTHEChildren.com and www.DefendTheChildren.org.

Husband faces felony rape, child abuse

JACKSON COUNTY — A Jackson County man accused of assaulting his pregnant wife also is facing two additional charges, one for felony rape a

Four charged in child abuse case