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Man charged with criminal abuse of a child

The Harlan County Sheriff’s Office has upgraded a charge against a Cumberland man previously arrested for criminal abuse of a 3-year-old child, filed criminal abuse charges against the child’s mother and released new information on the alleged abuse of placing the child in a deep freezer with the door held closed.

Deputy Matt Cope said late Friday that the investigation is continuing and an attempted murder charge was filed against Randy Hammons, 24, of Cumberland, who had been arrested earlier this week following an alleged altercation with another person and during the child abuse investigation.

Police said Hammons was located in a back bedroom of a residence lying on a bed with a knife next to him. Chief Deputy Winston Yeary patted Hammons down looking for other weapons and in the process located a small bag of suspected marijuana in Hammons’ front left pocket. Hammons was charged with possession of marijuana at that time.

He initially was charged with first-degree criminal abuse for allegedly abusing the 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. “This action created circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life and grave risk of death.”

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

In addition, the child’s mother, Connie Jenkins, is now charged on a warrant obtained by Cope for first-degree criminal abuse.

The warrant states she unlawfully and intentionally permitted another adult — her boyfriend Hammons — to cause serious physical injuries to her 3-year-old son by striking the child, leaving marks and bruises and placing the child in a deep freezer and closing the lid and holding it closed.

Hammons and Jenkins are lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

Hammons is lodged on a $60,000 full cash bond.

Jenkins is lodged on a $10,000 full cash bond.

The case remains under investigation by Cope, who says additional charges are pending.

The initial report was receiving Monday evening, said Cope.

Officers made contact with the child and observed the injuries. After speaking to the child, they contacted social services and the child and five brothers and sisters were removed from the home later that evening.

The injured child was treated at the Harlan ARH emergency room. Cope said Hammons had intentionally abused the child by causing the injury. He did not elaborate on the injuries, but said previously there were multiple injuries and bruising.

Hammons had fled the scene but was located on Tuesday, then being initially charged with possession of marijuana, said Cope.

In another report, an assault with a baseball bat following an argument led to the arrest of a Benham man.

Tim Motley, 52, was arrested by Benham Police Chief Drew Woods on Wednesday.

According to the citation, Motley got into a verbal altercation with Worthy Williams on Wednesday evening. The argument escalated, resulting in Motley striking Williams in the head with a baseball bat.

The citation states Motley advised police Williams told him “I am going to kill you.” At that point, Motley struck Williams several times with the baseball bat.

LifeCare Ambulance Service was called to the scene, but Williams refused treatment.

Motley was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $10,000 full cash bond and charged with second-degree assault and alcohol intoxication in a public place.

In other police news:

* Tonya Helton, 39, of Cawood, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

According to a press release from the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Chris Brewer conducted a traffic stop on Helton in the Cawood community. Helton showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test. Helton was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence and also served with an indictment warrant for first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and no registration plates.

Helton was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.

* Randy Niece, 24, of Evarts, was arrested by Evarts Police Officer William Clogston. Niece was arrested on several charges including fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to the Laural County complaint, Niece unlawfully used a debit card to make 16 unauthorized and illegal transactions from Dec. 29 to Feb 7. The debit card belonged to Niece’s mother, Barbara Blevins, who was incarcerated on Dec. 28.

Niece was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and two counts of failure to appear (another county). Niece was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $5,000 full cash bond;

* Kayla Hensley, 22, of Evarts, was arrested by Clogston on charges from another county of fraudulent use of a credit card. Hensley was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $1,000 surety bond;