Oklahoma Couple Sentenced for Tying Teen to Tree Near Chicken Coop for Three Days

Oklahoma couple sentenced to decades in prison for tying a 15-year-old girl to a tree for three days.

In a shocking case of child abuse, an Oklahoma judge has sentenced a couple to lengthy prison terms after they restrained a 15-year-old girl to a tree near a chicken coop for three days, claiming she couldn't be trusted.

Johnny James, 41, was sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty to child abuse and neglect. His girlfriend, Kayla Clark, 42, received 30 years for child neglect and enabling abuse. According to KOKI News, the young victim, now in foster care, delivered an emotional statement in court before her abusers were sentenced.

Disturbing Discovery in Northeast Oklahoma

Authorities became aware of the abuse on July 28 when deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in Vera, a small town about 25 miles north of Tulsa. A concerned woman reported that a teenage girl had been tied up outside for three days and desperately needed medical attention. She had a severe leg wound and open sores on her arms.

When deputies arrived, they found the 15-year-old girl sitting on a piece of carpet near a red shed and a chicken coop. She was slumped over, a bandage covering her knee, and a ratchet-style tie-down strap was wrapped around her body.

A witness, whom the teen identified as her "Nana," initially denied knowing about the abuse. However, she later admitted she had been aware of the situation but was too afraid of Johnny James to step in.

The Abuser's Justification

When questioned by authorities, James immediately confessed to tying the girl up, claiming it was necessary because “she cannot be trusted and likes to lie.”

He first insisted she had only been restrained for an hour, but later admitted it happened multiple times.

According to the affidavit, James justified the horrific abuse by saying the girl “peed and pooped on herself” and he didn't want the mess inside. He further stated that this was the only way he knew to control her, but now "sees he will need to figure out another solution."

Clark, meanwhile, claimed she did not know about the abuse, saying she had been in the shower at the time. She also said she didn't notice the girl sitting outside when they left for church that morning because she was too “frazzled.”

Rescue & Sentencing

First responders rushed the teen to a hospital, while DHS took custody of her and other children in the home.

With both James and Clark now facing decades in prison, the young victim is finally getting a second chance at life with a foster family.

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