The grandmother of the Muskogee child who died Monday told police she knew the child had been sexually abused, according to court documents.

Betty Hall, 42, told police she saw evidence her son, Robert Jack Meeks II, had sexually assaulted the 4-year-old child about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, the probable cause affidavit states.

Hall said she was scared to say anything to Meeks or her husband and she was going to wait and hope the injuries healed, the document states.

Additionally, the document indicates the child, only referred to as Christina, was on a heart monitor and was “unable to speak or make any verbal noise to alert her being in distress.”

Christina was taken to Muskogee Regional Medical Center some time Sunday, with a high fever and in cardiopulmonary arrest, according to the report.

Christina was later flown to a Tulsa Hospital, where she died at 4:55 a.m., police said.

Amy Elliott, a representative with the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office in Tulsa, said the cause and manner of death has not been determined, pending further studies.

Hall was booked on complaints of child abuse, failure to seek medical attention for a child and failure to report child abuse. Her bond was set at $50,000 Tuesday afternoon.

Meeks was booked on complaints of child abuse, first-degree rape and lewd acts to a minor and was ordered held without bond.

Shortly before the bond meeting Tuesday, medical equipment was being removed from Christina’s home on Lawrence Street, including a hospital bed.

Her family attended the bond hearing for Hall and Meeks. The two accused appeared side-by-side via video during the hearing.

District Attorney Larry Moore showed pictures to the court and said he was doing so to illustrate why he asked for no bond for Meeks.

Meeks crossed his arms on the table in front of him and set his chin on his arms throughout the hearing. Hall rested her chin in her palm, elbow on the table. Neither said anything during the bond hearing.

Meeks and Hall return to court today at 3 p.m. for their initial appearances at which time, charges will be presented.

If you are being charged with a criminal offense and need legal assistance, please contact The Swain Law Firm at (405)501-0827 to receive a free consultation.

Law Offices of Matt Swain

405-501-0827

Four child welfare workers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a state Department of Human Services investigation surrounding the beating death of a 5 year old girl.

Serenity Anne Deal died of a severe head injury less than a month after she moved in with her father, Sean Devon Brooks, 31. He is charged in Oklahoma County District Court in connection with her June 4 death.

Child welfare workers in Pottawatomie County recommended she live with her father. She had been taken away from her mother, who is accused of sexually assaulting another child.

The DHS employees on leave from their jobs are Wes Priest and Jennifer Shawn, both level 4 child welfare specialists, and Randy Lack and Donald Wheeler, both level 3 child welfare specialists.
 
Level 4s are supervisors, and level 3s are lead workers.

Priest has worked for DHS since 1998, Wheeler since 1981, Lack since 2000 and Shawn since 2006.

Wheeler and Priest are assigned to Lincoln County. Lack and Shawn are assigned to Pottawatomie County.

Sheree Powell, DHS spokeswoman, said the social workers will continue to be paid while the agency completes an internal investigation into Serenity’s death.

“Following any child death, we review the actions of staff involved to determine if policy was followed and appropriate recommendations were made to the court,” Powell said.

Powell said DHS should be releasing a report on its internal review next week.
 
Deaths raise questions about DHS approach
 
Serenity is the fourth child in the last 9 years that has died after having been under the supervision of DHS in Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties.

Melissa Ellison, 5, of Prague, was beaten to death in 2002 by her father and dumped near Meeker.

Kelsey Smith-Briggs, 3, of Meeker, died of blunt force trauma in 2005 after being returned to her mother.
 
Aja Johnson, 7, of Davenport, was kidnapped and killed in March 2010 by her stepfather.
 
House Speaker Kris Steele said Serenity’s death raises more significant questions about the approach used by DHS to care for children in state custody. Steele, R-Shawnee, lives in the district where Serenity’s case was decided and authored child welfare reform laws spurred by the Kelsey Smith-Briggs case.

Steele said the outcome of Serenity’s case is unacceptable.
 
“When a child’s life is on the line, the practice should always be to steer on the side of caution,” Steele said. “In Serenity’s case, it appears she was sent to an environment with documented safety concerns when other options were available.”

Steele said there should be a full explanation of the circumstances that led to her death.
 
“It is incumbent upon all of us to do the best we can to protect all children, particularly those who cannot protect themselves.”

The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth released its report this week on Serenity’s death and DHS’s involvement.

The report indicates there were disagreements between social workers in Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties over Serenity’s case.

Workers from Lincoln County investigated and documented allegations that Serenity had returned from two separate visits with her father in January with black eyes and multiple bruises.

Workers from Pottawatomie County made the recommendation that Serenity live with her father and vouched to a judge that Brooks’ home would be a safe environment for the girl, the report states.

Serenity and her younger half sibling had been under the supervision of DHS officials since late 2009. The children’s mother, Samantha Ann Deal, 36, is accused of molesting a 10 year old boy and faces charges in Lincoln County District Court.

Samantha Deal is expected to enter a blind plea July 5 allowing a judge to determine her sentence. She is pregnant.
 
The children lived with their maternal grandparents but were removed from their home when DHS officials suspected they were allowing Serenity to stay overnight with her mother, according to the report from the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

The grandparents’ attorney, Joe Vorndran, said the couple deny the allegations made by DHS. He said Serenity lived with them for three years, and they tried to adopt her.

 If you have been charged with murder, sex crime, fraud, assault, etc., please contact The Swain Law Firm at (405) 501-0827 for your free consultation.Cuatro trabajadores de bienestar infantil se han colocado en licencia administrativa en espera del resultado de una investigación del departamento de servicios humanos de Estados que rodean la muerte de paliza de una niña de 5 años.
Serenidad Anne Deal murió de una grave lesión en la cabeza menos de un mes después se mudó con su padre, Sean Devon Brooks, 31. Se le acusa en Oklahoma County Tribunal de distrito en relación con su muerte el 4 de junio.
Los trabajadores de bienestar infantil en el condado de Potawatomi recomienda ella vive con su padre. Ha sido tomado de su madre, quien es acusada de agredir sexualmente a otro niño.
Los empleados DHS licencia desde sus puestos de trabajo son Wes Priest y Jennifer Shawn, ambos especialistas de bienestar del niño de nivel 4 y falta de Randy y Donald Wheeler, ambos de nivel a 3 especialistas de bienestar infantil.
Nivel 4s son supervisores, y nivel 3s son trabajadores.
Sacerdote ha trabajado para DHS desde 1998, Wheeler desde 1981, falta desde el año 2000 y Shawn desde 2006.
Wheeler y sacerdote se asignan al condado de Lincoln. Falta y Shawn se asignan al condado de Potawatomi.
Sheree Powell, portavoz DHS, dijo que los trabajadores sociales se seguirá pagando mientras la Agencia finaliza una investigación interna sobre muerte de serenidad.
“Tras la muerte de cualquier niño, revisamos las acciones del personal determinar si la política siguió y se formularon recomendaciones apropiadas a la Corte”, dijo Powell.
Powell dijo que DHS debe lanzar un informe sobre su examen interno la próxima semana.
Muertes plantean preguntas sobre el enfoque DHS
Serenidad es el cuarto hijo en los últimos 9 años que ha muerto después de haber estado bajo la supervisión del DHS en condados de Lincoln y Potawatomi.
Melissa Ellison, 5, de Praga, fue golpeado a muerte en 2002 por su padre y vuelca cerca de Meeker.
Kelsey Smith-Briggs, 3, de Meeker, murió de trauma contundente fuerza en 2005 después de ser devuelto a su madre.
Aja Johnson, 7, de Davenport, fue secuestrado y asesinado en marzo de 2010 por su padrastro.
Casa portavoz Kris Steele dice muerte de serenidad plantea interrogantes más importantes sobre el método utilizado por el DHS para el cuidado de los niños bajo custodia del Estado. Steele, R-Shawnee, vive en el distrito donde el caso de serenidad se decidió y autor de leyes de reforma de bienestar infantil estimuladas por el caso de Kelsey Smith-Briggs.
Steele dijo que el resultado del caso de serenidad es inaceptable.
Steele dijo que “Cuando la vida del niño está en la línea, la práctica siempre debe conducir al lado de precaución,”. “En caso de serenidad, parece que fue enviada a un medio ambiente con preocupaciones de seguridad documentadas cuando otras opciones estaban disponibles”.
Steele dijo que debe haber una explicación completa de las circunstancias que condujeron a su muerte.
“Corresponde a todos nosotros hacer lo mejor que podemos para proteger a todos los niños, especialmente aquellos que no pueden protegerse.”
La Comisión de Oklahoma para niños y jóvenes publicó su informe esta semana sobre la muerte de serenidad y participación del DHS.
El informe indica que hubo desacuerdos entre los trabajadores sociales en los condados de Lincoln y el Potawatomi sobre caso de serenidad.
Los trabajadores del condado Lincoln investigaron y documentaron denuncias de que había regresado serenidad de dos visitas separadas con su padre en enero con ojos negros y múltiples contusiones.
Los trabajadores del Condado de Potawatomi formuló la recomendación esa serenidad directo con su padre y atestiguaron ante un juez principal Brooks sería un entorno seguro para la niña, señala el informe.
Serenidad y sus medio hermanos más jóvenes habían estado bajo la supervisión de funcionarios DHS desde finales de 2009. Madre de los niños, Samantha Ann Deal, 36, está acusada de molestar a un niño de 10 años y enfrenta cargos en la Corte de distrito de condado Lincoln.
Samantha Deal se espera entre el 5 de julio un alegato ciego que permite a un juez determinar su sentencia. Ella está embarazada.
Los niños vivían con sus abuelos maternos, pero fueron retirados de sus hogares cuando los funcionarios DHS sospecha que fueron permitiendo serenidad para pasar la noche con su madre, de acuerdo con el informe de la Comisión de Oklahoma para niños y jóvenes.
El abogado de los abuelos, Joe Vorndran, dijo que la pareja negar las denuncias formuladas por el DHS. Dijo serenidad vivió con ellos durante tres años, e intentaron adoptarla.
Si ha sido acusados de asesinato, crimen sexual, fraude, asalto, etc., póngase en contacto con el bufete de Swain en (405) 501-0827 para su consulta gratuita.

Law Offices of Matt Swain

405-501-0827

The town’s new mayor was arrested this week on accusations that he molested a 3 year old boy.
 
Delbert Starr Jr., 61, is charged in Pittsburg County District Court with sexual abuse of a child under 12. He was arrested late Wednesday and freed on $50,000 bail.

Starr has been Haileyville’s mayor for two months. About 890 people live in the town, 14 miles east of McAlester. He had a 32 year career at the Tulsa Fire Department before moving to Haileyville.
 
The charge stems from a November 2009 incident where Starr was allegedly witnessed by two child welfare workers masturbating with the child on his lap, according to a court affidavit.
 
Assistant District Attorney Wesley Cherry said he couldn’t comment as to why it took nearly 16 months for a charge to be filed.
 
“It’s an ongoing case, and I can’t say more than what’s been filed in court,” Cherry said.
 
The workers claim they came to Starr’s home to check on the child and he was wearing nothing but underwear, and Starr was covering his body with a blanket from the waist down. They told authorities Starr said he and the boy had been taking a shower together, the affidavit states.
 
Starr later told a sheriff’s department investigator, he had not bathed with the child but had given him a bath shortly before the two child welfare workers arrived. He denied molesting the boy, the affidavit states.
 
Deputies took bath towels, a blank and T-shirt from Starr’s home to be tested for evidence at a state lab.

The child allegedly told a child abuse specialist at the Pittsburg County Child Advocacy Center that Starr had hurt him, according to the affidavit.

If you have been charged with murder, sex crime, fraud, assault, etc., please contact The Swain Law Firm at (405) 501-0827 for your free consultation.

Law Offices of Matt Swain

405-501-0827

A Roosevelt Middle School science teacher was accused of abusing his two children.  Jeremy Shawn Parke, was arrested on a warrant about 12:30pm at the school at 3233 SW 44, Moore police department reported.  Parke was charged Wednesday in Cleveland County with two counts of child abuse or enabling child abuse.  Parke is accused of abusing his two children, both 19 months old but born to different mothers.  Parke’s attorney, Elton Jenkins of Norman said Wednesday, I can tell you this, similar accusations have been made about him in the past and they were  proven to be unfounded and untrue.  My client willingly went and talked to law enforcement.  He has nothing to hide.

The sexual abuse is said to have happened while the children were in Parke’s care between March 4th and March 7th.  These are serious allegations  that leaves Mr. parke facing felony sexual abuse & child molestation charges.  If you or a family member is facing allegations of any type of sex crime, contact criminal defense attorney Matt Swain immediately.Un profesor de Ciencias de secundaria Roosevelt fue acusado de abusar de sus dos hijos. Jeremy Shawn Parke, fue detenido en una orden 12:30 PM en la escuela de 3233 SW 44, informó el departamento de policía de Moore. Parke fue acusado el miércoles en el condado de Cleveland con dos cargos de abuso o maltrato propicio. Parke es acusado de abusar de sus dos hijos, ambos 19 meses pero nacidas a diferentes madres. Abogado de Parke, Elton Jenkins de Norman declaró el miércoles, puedo decirles esto, acusaciones similares se han hecho sobre él en el pasado y han demostrado para ser infundadas y falsas. Mi cliente voluntariamente fue y habló con la aplicación de la ley. No tiene nada que ocultar.
El abuso sexual se dice que han ocurrido mientras que los niños estaban en la atención de Parke entre el 4 de marzo y 7 de marzo. Se trata de graves acusaciones que deja el Sr. parke frente a los abusos sexuales de un delito grave y cargos de abuso sexual infantil. Si usted o un miembro de la familia enfrenta denuncias de cualquier tipo de delito sexual, contacto con abogados de defensa criminal Matt Swain inmediatamente.

Law Offices of Matt Swain

405-501-0827

Young boy called 911 while hiding in his closet and watching his sister be violently raped by Jennifer Edwards and Jesse Wilson Jr.  When police responded they found the young boy hiding in his closet and scared that two rapist would come after him.  Jesse Wilson was arrested on complaints of rape, lewd molestation and forcible oral sodomy in connection with the assault on a 9 year old girl.  His girlfriend Jennifer Edwards was arrested on complaints of child endangerment, child neglect and failure to protect.

Wilson and Edwards were drunk when arrested and both being hild without bail in the Muskogee County Jail.  Both children are in the custody of the state department of Human Services.  They will undergo counseling and foresic interviews.

 Joven llamó al 911 mientras escondido en su armario y mirando a su hermana violentamente ser violada por Jennifer Edwards y Jesse Wilson Jr. Cuando la policía respondió encontraron al joven escondido en su armario y tiene miedo a ese violador dos vendría después de él. Jesse Wilson fue detenido sobre las denuncias de violación, abuso sexual lascivo y sodomía oral forzoso en relación con el asalto a una niña de 9 años. Su novia Jennifer Edwards fue arrestada por las denuncias de peligro de niño, no proteger y abandono infantil.
Wilson y Edwards fueron borracho cuando fue arrestado y siendo ambos hild sin libertad bajo fianza en la cárcel del Condado de Muskogee. Ambos niños están bajo la custodia del Departamento de estado de servicios sociales. Será objeto de asesoría y entrevistas de foresic.

Law Offices of Matt Swain

405-501-0827