Honk News (Tulsa, OK) – A judge in Oklahoma delivered severe penalties on Wednesday to a couple who restrained a 15-year-old girl to a tree for three days, citing their belief that she “could not be trusted.”
Johnny James, 41, has been sentenced to 35 years behind bars after admitting to charges of child abuse and neglect. Kayla Clark, 42, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to charges of child neglect and facilitating abuse.
The individual affected is currently placed with a foster family and was able to deliver a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing.
On July 28, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a residence in Vera, a quaint town located in northeast Oklahoma approximately 25 miles north of Tulsa, following a report of child abuse, according to a probable cause arrest statement.
A woman reported to deputies that a 15-year-old girl was found bound in the backyard and required medical assistance, noting “a hole in her leg and lesions on her arms,” according to the affidavit. A report from the 911 caller indicated that the girl had been present for three days, with the caller discreetly providing her food.
The 15-year-old girl and her family were in town from Texas, according to law enforcement. Authorities arrived at the residence and found the 15-year-old girl next to a red shed and a chicken coop, sitting on a rectangular piece of carpet. She was leaning forward with a bandage below her knee and a ratchet-style tie-down strap secured around her, as detailed in the affidavit.
Authorities interviewed a witness whom the 15-year-old recognized as her grandmother. Initially, the woman “was not inclined to be honest” and claimed she was unaware of the girl’s situation, as reported by deputies. However, she reportedly confessed to being aware of the situation but felt “too afraid” of James to speak up.
Upon arriving home, James promptly informed deputies that he had restrained her, citing concerns about her trustworthiness and tendency to be dishonest, according to the affidavit. He allegedly mentioned that she wasn’t restrained for long, possibly just an hour during his absence. James reported to deputies that she had been restrained on two different occasions.
James stated that he believes the disciplinary problems stem from the girl’s desire to reside with her mother. He also informed deputies that he now realizes he must find an alternative solution instead of restraining her.
According to the affidavit, when questioned by police regarding the 15-year-old who was restrained with a ratchet strap, Clark claimed that “she was taking a shower and did not know anything took place.” She also mentioned that she did not notice the girl sitting outside when they departed for church that morning, as she was feeling too “frazzled.”
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The girl was transported to the hospital by first responders. The girl, along with other children from the home, has been placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services, according to a report by the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise.