Two people from Harrah have been charged with multiple child sexual abuse crimes following their arrest in early January.
Amanda D. Bond-Langston, 32, and Jeremy C. Barnes, Sr., 36, each face six counts of child sexual abuse and one count each of child neglect.
The formal charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court against the pair on Jan. 21.
According to an affidavit filed by Acting District Attorney Investigator Kristen Weygand, Bond-Langston and Barnes were arrested just before 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7 this year, in the 2100 block of Street in Chandler.
Records show that Barnes appeared before Associate Judge Sheila Kirk on Jan. 11 and a $75,000 bond was set. His initial appearance was held last Thursday, Jan. 21.
Bond-Langston also appeared before Judge Kirk on Jan. 11. Her bond was set at $75,000 and she was ordered to return last Thursday as well.
A reappearance was set for her at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 28.
Prosecutors claim the alleged crimes the two are charged with occurred between Jan. 1, 2016 and Jan. 7, 2021.
Count 1 accuses them of child sexual abuse by having sex with one another in Lincoln County in the presence of a minor.
Count 2 accuses them of sexually abusing a five-year-old by displaying obscene materials to him teaching him certain sexual acts.
Counts 3-6 accuse them of child sexual abuse by sexually abusing children by committing incest by sodomy. Count 7 accuses the two
Count 7 accuses the two of allowing an infant to choke on loose items and not assisting in the rescue.
Each of the seven felony counts is punishable by up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
It’s stated in the affidavit filed by Weygand that Bond-Langston and Barnes had sex multiple times in front of the children.
One of the kids interviewed by a forensic interviewer related that the couple knew they were being seen, and would leave the door open with minor children in the house.
In interviews with the different children, investigators were told of instances where they were forced into various sexual acts with Barnes and Bond-Langston. They were also advised some of the children were made to perform sexual acts with one another.
Weygand states in the affidavit that on Jan. 5, 2021, she was contacted by the Lincoln County Department of Human Services on a child abuse referral that had been received that same day.
“It was stated to me that in this referral, both parents of the home, identified as Jeremy C. Barnes, Sr., and Amanda Bond-Langston, drank excessively and beat the children with a studded belt.
It was further stated that the person reporting the abuse said one of the older children had disclosed ‘sexual things they have them do,’ and that ‘they were having sex with them.’”
Weygand says in the affidavit that based on information received, DHS and law enforcement jointly responded to the residence of 329575 E. 1022 Road in Harrah, in Lincoln County on Jan. 5.
According to the affidavit, during their response, case workers received information by one child that there had been sexual abuse to that child.