REPORT: Local special needs facility under investigation

SHELBY- An employee at Alexander Youth Network is now the subject of a child abuse allegation after a mother noticed bruising on her child.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s office is investigating allegations of abuse of a 6-year-old child at Alexander Youth Network, a center that works with children with behavioral and emotional issues.On April 29, the Shelby agency, 1201-2 S. Post Rd., Shelby, was served with the search warrant after a parent made a call to the sheriff’s office alleging her child had been abused at the facility by an employee, Cherral Moore.

This story was first reported by Nick Ochsner of WBTV news. Read the full story here.

According to affidavits from the sheriff’s office, detectives requested a search warrant, pertaining to allegations made, after the behavioral network refused to allow detectives access pertaining to the incident and the two parties involved.

Kennie Bowen called the sheriff’s office on April 27 stating her disabled child had come home with bruises on her shoulder and back, according to affidavits with the search warrant. When asked about her injuries the little girl stated, “I can’t tell you, or I’ll get in trouble.”

Bowen received a call about her child’s condition from Kim Jenkins, of Alexander Youth Network. Jenkins told Bowen the child had been assaulted by a teacher, read affidavits.

When asked about charges being filed, Jenkins told Bowen that “It had been handled”, read the affidavit.

When detectives interviewed Bowen, they found out this was not the first time the 6-year-old had shown signs of injury. Bowen described foot shaped bruises on her daughter’s chest, bruises on her tailbone and smaller bruises around the child’s wrist.

“(The supervisor) asked the staff member why she didn’t report the incident when it happened, and she advised she was worried about other staff member who were the suspect’s friends,” the affidavit reads.

Bowen had asked her child about the bruises, but due to her disabilities it is hard for the child to remember what happened, affidavits read.

Detectives asked Bowen, "if she had been notified of any other times her daughter had been injured?" The mother allegedly told detectives she had received one call about another child hitting her daughter in the face.

Detectives spoke with Jenkins at the facility and were told that the allegation had been reported to Department of Social Services, Health Care Registry and Health and Human Services. But it is not the networks “policy” to report these things to law enforcement, according to affidavits.Detectives served a search warrant on the facility for records related to the incident after the facility’s supervisor refused to voluntarily provide them.

“Det. Woosley has knowledge from her training and experience, that when an individual and or cooperation (sic) does not voluntary (sic) supply information essential to an investigation it is believed to be ‘covering up’ and or hiding information,” the detective wrote in the affidavit.

As of Tuesday, the case is still under investigation by the sheriff’s office.