Joseph Akins
Dorothy PresleyA Chattanooga couple has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse after children were dropped off at their grandfather's house with visible signs of bruising.
The grandfather told police Monday that he called their caretaker, Dorothy Presley, 26, to ask what had happened and she told him they had been disciplined and that she was aware of the marks on them, according to court records.
One of the children had marks on his back and face, another had marks on his lower back and buttocks, and the third had marks on her legs. They all said they received those injuries from Presley's boyfriend, Joseph Akins, 31.
They said Akins placed weights in front of the bedroom door to prevent them from leaving over the weekend, and all three children soiled themselves because they hadn't been able to leave the room. They told police Akins then struck them multiple times with a belt.
In response, Presley and Akins told officers that the children make things up.
Both were charged with three counts of aggravated child abuse, and Presley faces an additional charge of child endangerment. Presley and Akins' next court appearance is Monday before Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Gary Starnes.