BEDFORD – Criminal charges have been dropped against Chris and Melissa Carter who were arrested in November 2020 on charges of child neglect and domestic battery.
Bedford Police officers arrested the couple on November 13, 2020, and according to Bedford Attorney James Pittman, the charges were filed in relation to a child in need of service case filed in September 2020.
According to Pittman, “The probable cause affidavit contained largely inaccurate information and unfairly damaged my client’s reputation in the community.”
On January 15, 2021, Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III, ruled in favor of the Carters and determined that the boy in question was indeed not a child in need of services. As a result, the boy was returned to his mom and dad’s custody immediately and their records expunged.
Bedford Police officers arrested the Carters in November 2020 on charges of child neglect and domestic battery on a child under the age of 14.
On the night of September 11, 2020 officers were called to the 500 block of Shandell Drive after a request to do a welfare check on a 12-year-old male.
The caller told police the male was living on the porch of the residence. The caller had a video of the abuse the male suffered and sent that video to officers.
“The Bedford Police Department investigated the incident after receiving a report of child neglect and domestic battery in September 2020,” said Lawrence County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Allison M. Chopra. “After watching a video provided to officers and talking to those involved in the incident, the department submitted its case to our office for review and formal charges. The officers did a thorough and diligent job of investigating the case, which was based, in part, on video evidence. We stand by our decision to charge the case, and we appreciate the Bedford Police Department for its investigation and work in our community.”
According to Chief Deputy Chopra, Child in Need of Services cases are separate from criminal cases. Those are under the jurisdiction of Lawrence Circuit Court Judge Nathan Nikirk and Juvenile Referee Anah Hewetson Gouty.
The Prosecutor’s Office is not at liberty to discuss those matters.
The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office did, however, work out an informal agreement with the defense attorneys on behalf of Chris and Melissa Carter.
“We agreed to dismiss the case if the Carters met certain criteria,” Chopra said. “The Carters did what they agreed to do, and the case against them was dismissed. Our job isn’t always to prosecute and incarcerate. We’re here to serve the community. We believe in rehabilitation and teamwork to ensure the safety of the community.
