JONESBORO, Ind. (TCN) — A 28-year-old man has been charged with 20 felony counts in connection with the treatment of four children in his home.
WXIN reports that an investigation into Joshua Chasteen began on Jan. 2 after four children disclosed alleged abuse and molestation.
Court documents obtained by WXIN allege that Chasteen locked the four children, all under age 12, in a basement, and sometimes fed them only crumbs. One of the children reportedly passed out due to hunger.
Chasteen allegedly told the children not to disclose the treatment or he would kill them. There were also allegedly told to lie about how they received bruises and whipping marks. One of the children was reportedly forced to buy concealer to cover marks on the younger children, court documents state.
During an interview with police, one child was reportedly crying so hard it was difficult for the interviewer to understand what they were saying, WXIN reports. The child said Chasteen beat a pet dog for attempting to intervene and protect them. Chasteen also allegedly snapped the neck of a kitten in front of the children and made them watch as he forced another cat to eat rat poison. In addition, the victims alleged that Chasteen molested them and said he would kill them if they told anyone.
Court documents claim Chasteen’s wife, whose name has not been released, was told about the treatment by some of the children but reportedly worked 110 hours a week and was too exhausted to look into the claims; Chasteen allegedly told her the children were exaggerating.
The mother of one of victims reportedly did contact child services, but at that point, Chasteen had moved to Florida to live with his mother. He reportedly denied the allegations but said, “If I am going to go to jail for no reason, I am going to make sure it is for a reason,” WXIN reports. He allegedly threatened to beat one of the victim’s mothers and said she was coercing the children into making the allegations.
Chasteen was arrested and booked into jail on April 17. He was charged with domestic battery causing serious injury, child molesting, criminal confinement, domestic battery, strangulation, and torturing or mutilating an animal. WXIN reports his first hearing is scheduled for May 20.
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