Police responded to a home in Vera, Oklahoma, on July 28 where they found a teenage girl allegedly tied to a tree and sleeping on a rug, police allege.
Washington County Jail (2)
Johnny James and Kayla Clark
A man and his girlfriend have been arrested in Oklahoma and are facing child abuse charges after the man allegedly tied his 15-year-old daughter to a tree in their yard, police said.
According to jail records, police arrested 40-year-old Johnny James and his girlfriend Kayla Clark on suspicion of child abuse and neglect.
According to a press release obtained by PEOPLE from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were notified of a teenager who was reportedly tied to a tree with ratchet straps for three days on a property in Vera. An investigation revealed that the Texas family was visiting relatives in the area, the press release said.
Washington County Jail
Johnny James
When police arrived on the scene, they reportedly found the girl sitting on a rectangular piece of carpet that she had been allowed to sleep on, the news release said. An investigation revealed that the girl had reportedly been tied to a tree with a ratchet strap by her father, James, for “more than 24 hours,” the news release said.
According to the press release, James allegedly told police that he tied the girl to the tree to punish her. James allegedly told police that “the child has problems urinating and defecating when she is inside and if she was outside, there would be no mess.”
Washington County Jail
Kayla Clark
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The 42-year-old girlfriend reportedly told authorities she knew the girl was tied to the tree but was “distraught” and didn’t report James’ actions, the release said.
According to the press release, James allegedly punished his daughter because the teenager wanted to live with her mother.
Both James and Clark are being held in the Washington County Jail on $500,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on August 9. It is not clear whether either suspect has entered a plea or has retained an attorney.
The teen was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will assume custody of her and the other children found in the home, according to the press release obtained by PEOPLE.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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