CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The bond for two Johnson City women arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect has been raised to $250,000.
A Johnson City Police Department release stated Christina Niles reportedly abused her eight-month-old child causing “serious bodily injury.” Cheryl Hawkes, the eight-months-old’s grandmother, failed to protect the child from the alleged abuse by Niles, the JCPD said on Monday.
Affidavits for Niles and Hawkes obtained by News Channel 11 detailed the state of the infant when investigators arrived at the emergency room. Investigators report that the child had undergone CPR and was in “crucial condition” with bruises on his head and body and a fractured skull.
Hawkes and Niles were both appointed an attorney on Wednesday at their court appearance, and their bond was increased from $50,000 to $250,000.
Both are scheduled to appear again in court on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.
News Channel 11 reached out to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services on Thursday regarding the department’s involvement in the investigation. Inquiries were also made regarding any previous DCS investigations or records involving Niles or Hawkes. The following statement was issued by a DCS spokesperson:
“The Department can confirm that an investigation has commenced in this matter, which we will work closely alongside law enforcement. The Department follows established procedure to request that the Court modify custody when a child is unsafe. Pursuant to federal and state law, we are unable to release case specific details regarding children or families served by the Department.”
Keller Mizell, Senior Associate Counsel, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
