CAMDEN — By BRADLY GILL
Staff writer
A Camden man suspected of child abuse has been granted a lower bond in response to his earlier request. While he and his girlfriend have pleaded not guilty in separate court appearances.
Antwon Davidson and Janecia Moore, both of Camden, are charged with first degree domestic battery and permitting the abuse of a minor. They face up to 30 years for the attempted murder charge and up to 20 years for the domestic batter and permitting the abuse of a minor charges. Both have pleaded not guilty on October 9. The child is Davidson’s daughter and Moore is Davidson’s girlfriend. Documents filed on Sept. 21 state, “Defendant is a longtime resident of Ouachita and Union Counties, Arkansas. He, his fiancé and his children maintain a home in Camden, Arkansas. In addition, he has extensive family ties with this area. He has never been arrested for a felony prior to the arrest that resulted the current charges nor has he been convicted of a felony.
“Defendant requests that an order be entered finding that his appearance in this court would be reasonably ensured by his execution of a bond in the amount of $10,000.00 in the form of a cash or corporate surety bond.
“Defendant maintains that the factors which justify the setting of the aforesaid bond are: (a) the length and character of his residence in the community; (b) his employment status, history and financial condition; (c) his family ties and relationship; (d) his reputation, character and mental condition; (e) his past history of response to legal process; (f) the identity of the responsible members of his family who vouch for his reliability, and, (g) other factors indicating his roots in the community.”
Documents from the State objected to Davidson’s plea for lower bail.
Court documents state that, “On July 6, 2018 at 1359 hours, Officer Jones responded to Ouachita County Medical Center for a suspected child abuse report Contact was made with an emergency room nurse who stated a child had apparently fallen down the stairs and was complaining of her neck hurting.”
The report states that the child “had snuck out of bed to go down stairs to get her something to drink. They did not allow Eros to have anything to drink after 6:00 p.m. due to her having a problem of wetting the bed. Davidson did not hear (the child) fall but Moore had told him about (the child) falling.”
The report also states that the nurse had concerns about the child’s weight and that she was “bony and undersized.”
A nurse also noticed bruises on the child’s backside and when questioned the child told the staff “Mommy hit me with a belt in the hallway when I pottied on myself.” The documents stated the child told a social worker she was disciplined when she wet herself, but would not provide additional information because, “Mom and Dad told me not to say anything.”
The child also told the attending nurse that her food is often taken away from her and given to her brother when she eats too slowly and that she is punished for drinking out of the toilet, which she did to slake her extreme thirst.
She told the nurse that salt was added to her rice and that she was forced to eat it. Hospital tests showed a high amount of sodium and electrolytes in the child, which a doctor noted was extremely dangerous and consistent with salt poisoning, ” which is a dangerous and potentially fatal mechanism of poisoning.”
Reports also state the child repeatedly asked for food and water in the emergency room and showed no signs of “voluntarily limiting her intake of food or liquids.”
Davidson and Moore are set for another court appearance in November.