Authorities in Oklahoma detained a man and his girlfriend after they reportedly discovered their 15-year-old daughter bound to a tree in the rear of a house between a shed and a chicken coop using a ratchet strap.
While Kayla Sharee Clark, 42, is accused of facilitating child neglect, Johnny James, 40, is in jail on a charge of severe child abuse and neglect. A probable cause arrest affidavit states that on July 28, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a child abuse allegation at a residence in Vera, a tiny town in northeastern Oklahoma about 25 miles north of Tulsa.
According to the affidavit, a lady informed officers that a 15-year-old girl with “a hole in her leg and lesions on her arms” was tied up in the backyard and in need of medical assistance. The girl had been there for three days, according to the 911 caller, and the caller was snatching food meant for 15-year-olds.
According to police, the 15-year-old girl was on a visit with her family from Texas.
When deputies arrived to the house, they observed the 15-year-old girl sitting on a rectangular section of carpet, leaning over at the waist, with a bandage below her knee and a “ratchet-style tie down strap around her,” said the affidavit. The girl was standing next to a red shed and a chicken coop.
When police spoke with a woman, the 15-year-old recognized her as her grandmother. Deputies noted that the woman first “did not want to be truthful” and claimed not to be aware of the girl’s condition.
She later allegedly acknowledged knowing what was happening, but she refrained from speaking because she was “too afraid” of James.
According to the affidavit, James tied her up as soon as he got home and told the deputies that “she cannot be trusted and likes to lie.” He allegedly claimed that she was only restrained for about one hour while he was out. James allegedly informed deputies twice that she was restrained.
“Johnny explained the times she is left outside was to go to the store or church this morning due to her peeing and pooping on herself and not wanting it inside so they sat her outside that way there is no mess,” according to the affidavit. “When Johnny was asked, he stated this was the only option to keep her restrained because he did not know what else to do to help her.”
James stated that he believes the girl’s desire to live with her mother is the cause of the discipline problems. Along with tying her down, he also admitted to the deputies that he “sees now he will need to figure out another solution.”
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Clark said that “she was taking a shower and did not know anything took place” in response to police questions regarding the 15-year-old being bound with the ratchet strap. The document also claims that Clark did not spot the girl sitting outside when they departed for church that morning because she was too “Frazzled.”
After James and Clark were taken into custody by deputies, they were placed on a $500,000 bond and lodged in the Washington County Jail. On August 9, they have a court hearing set.
The girl was taken to the hospital by first responders. The girl and the other kids who were living in the house will be placed under the supervision of the Department of Human Services.
