TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A Tallahassee woman has been arrested after being accused of abusing two young boys in her care.
Sharaine Williams was charged with child abuse after the Department of Children and Families reported evidence of child abuse to the Tallahassee Police Department.
According to court documents, TPD was contacted by a Special Victims Unit investigator on April 5 about a child abuse allegation. When officers spoke to an official familiar with the investigation, she said that DCF had received a report of possible child abuse on April 2 and a medical examination was later scheduled at the Children's Home Society.
During that medical exam, several injuries were found on the children. Doucments say both of the children had new and older markings all over their bodies. One child also had a large cut on his forehead.
When interviewed, documents say the victims told investigators that they had received the injuries from "whoopings." The victims said that Williams hit them in the face and body with belts, shoes, and cords, oftentimes causing cuts and bruises. One of the victims told investigators that he is hit with a switch (a thin branch from a tree that is typically used for hitting) nearly every day.
On Tuesday, TPD officers interviewed Williams who described the children as "good kids" and normal. She told investigators that one of the victims consistently gets in trouble on a weekly basis and, on rare occasions, she has to "whoop" him. Williams admitted that when she does have to "whoop" them, she uses a belt, but had to use a switch last week because she couldn't find a belt.
Documents say Williams said that none of the beatings would leave scars or marks long-term. She stated to investigators, "I don't whoop them like that. That's the thing, I barely even whoop them. I don't, I constantly talk to them. That's what I mainly do, I barely even whoop them." When asked where the injuries may have come from, Williams said that "they play hard" and said that they played outside every day with little supervision.
Based on the evidence, investigators found probable cause to charge Williams with two counts fo child abuse. She was taken into custody on Wednesday and is being held at the Leon County Detention Facility on no bond.
