Tullahoma, Tenn., man jailed in death of 4-year-old boy

Charles Eugene Anderson, 32, of Decherd, Tenn., charged criminal homicide, failure to report child abuse, aggravated child abuse and unlawful carrying or possessing a weapon

An investigation is continuing in Tullahoma, Tenn., where a man is behind bars on a homicide charge linked to the death of a 4-year-old boy.

On Wednesday, Tullahoma police were called to Tennova-Harton Healthcare about a 4-year-old boy who had been taken in a private car to the hospital's emergency room, according to police and city spokesman Winston Brooks.

The boy was pronounced dead later.

"The child's body did show some signs of trauma," Brooks said.

Brooks said information on the child's death is limited while the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be pending.

Tullahoma Police Department launched an investigation that led to the arrest of Charles Eugene Anderson, 32, of 305 Fort St., Tullahoma. Anderson is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated child abuse, failure to report child abuse and unlawful possession of a weapon, officials said.

Anderson is an acquaintance of the family, 13th Judicial District Attorney General Craig Northcott said. The weapons charge stems from a firearm found in the car Anderson used to take the boy to the hospital. Anderson's mother rode with him to take the boy.

Northcott declined to discuss any other case details.

Northcott said Anderson is charged under the 2005 Tennessee statute known as Haley's Law.

Haley's law stiffens punishment for certain child abuse defendants if convicted. Under the law, the charge of aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment becomes a Class A felony when it involves a victim 8 years old or younger or one who is "mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or suffers from a physical disability," the law states.

Class A felonies in Tennessee carry a penalty of 15-60 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000, according to state law.

Anderson is being held at the Coffee County Jail on a $575,000 bond and is scheduled for an initial appearance and status hearing in Coffee County General Sessions Court on July 6.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.