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A man accused of placing a child into a deep freezer and forcing the child to remain inside appeared in Harlan Circuit Court on Thursday.

Randy Hammons, 24, of Cumberland, stood in front of Judge Daniel Ballou to be arraigned on charges stemming from the alleged March incident.

Hammons was arrested on March 26 by former Harlan County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Cope.

According to previous reports, Hammons initially was charged with first-degree criminal abuse for allegedly abusing a young child who is the son of the woman with which Hammons was living.

“As the investigation progressed it was discovered that Hammons had placed the 3-year-old child in a functioning deep freezer holding the door closed,” said Cope in a previous report.

An arrest warrant on Hammons was obtained by Cope, adding an attempted murder charge.

The attempted murder charge was later amended down to first-degree assault by the grand jury.

Hammons was arraigned on for first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 and first-degree unlawful imprisonment.

Hammons is represented by attorney Laura Karem of the Public Defender’s Office, who entered a plea of not guilty for Hammons.

Hammons remains in custody after his arraignment. He is currently being held in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

Hammons’ next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 1.

In other court activity:

* Rodney Thacker, 22, of Evarts, was sentenced to five years in prison on three counts of third-degree assault, resisting arrest, menacing, and second-degree disorderly conduct. Thacker had been granted pre-trial diversion for the charges, but violated probation;

* Sawyer Pannell, 24, of Gulston, was sentenced to three years in prison on two counts of receiving stolen property under $10,000, two counts of receiving stolen property (firearm), theft by unlawful taking, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, fraudulent use of a credit card under $500 and attempted fraudulent use of a credit card under $500. Pannell was granted five years probation on the charges under the condition that he leave Harlan County with 12 hours;

* David N. Jones, 63, of Baxter, received a sentence of five years in prison on a charge of receiving stolen property. Jones was granted five years probation, unsupervised after paying restitution in full;

* Brian T. Jones, 36, of Baxter, was sentenced to five years in prison, probated for five years, on a charge of receiving stolen property. Jones was granted unsupervised probation after paying restitution in full;

* Teanna Cansler, 34, of Cumberland, was sentenced to 10 years in prison upon having her probation revoked.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510, ext. 113, jasher@civitasmedia.com