Alleged inappropriate discipline leads to child abuse charges against couple

News editor

A man and woman were arrested last week and charged with several counts of child abuse after the 8-year-old child of Emma Marie Williams, 28, of 30 Carl Henson Rd. showed up at school with several signs of a severe beating.

Williams and her boyfriend, Adam Warren Conley, 29, were charged.

The Macon County Sheriff's Office was first alerted to the abuse after the 8-year-old child showed up for class at one of the county's elementary schools with signs of abuse.

An investigation into the abuse was immediately put into action on Oct. 16, but then the child retuned to school the very next day with even more severe signs of abuse.

Williams / Conley

“After investigation by our detectives, it was found that the child had been in fact inappropriately disciplined to level of child abuse and charges were filed,” says Sheriff Robert Holland. “The Department of Social Services assisted with the investigation and found it necessary to take immediate custody of the children.”

In addition to the 8-year-old, Williams also had a 5-year-old child. Both are now in protective custody with DSS.

Sheriff's office detective Judy Bradford, who is handling the case, says the wounds and bruises were extensive all over the victim's body.

“The child had lacerations about her mouth, severe bruising of her ribcage, and black and blue bruising on her buttocks and right leg,” she says. “There were belt buckle marks on the ribcage and belt strap marks on the back and chest area.”

The child also had a reverse Mohawk-style haircut allegedly given to her for discipline by the couple, Bradford adds.

Within the investigation it was found that the mother told investigators that this was the style of discipline that is used in the household.

In addition to counts of misdemeanor child abuse, Williams is charged with felony child abuse and inflicting serious injury. Warrants issued by magistrate Vic Perry state that Williams' abuse caused severe bruising on the child's body. Charges for allowing injury from Conley were also filed.

Conley is charged with three counts of assault on a child under the age of 12. Warrants issued for him suggest that he slapped the child in the face, slammed her head into a door and threw a belt at her.

Both Williams and Conley were booked at the Macon County jail. Both are now out on bail after Williams posted a $7,500 bond and Conley posted his of $3,000.