Two Charged With Child Abuse

November 15, 2012

Two Escambia County residents are facing child abuse allegations.

Deputies reported to the Gulf Coast Kids House Wednesday morning in reference to a child abuse complaint. According to DCF investigators, a 13-year old victim had been hit several times with a belt and also had made allegations of previous abuse by his mother, 37-year old Erica Poole and his stepfather, 34-year old Darrick Poole.

According to the child’s grandmother, who was making the complaint in the name of her grandson, the child had been kicked out of the house by the parents. The grandmother had found him approximately an hour later walking in the rain to her house. She also reported that the child had told her that two weeks prior his stepfather had grabbed him by the throat and pushed him down the hallway, striking him in the eye with a closed fist. The child appeared to have injuries to the neck area, which he stated were caused from strikes with a belt, investigators said.

The Pooles were placed under arrest and charged with one count of cruelty towards a child and one count of child neglect each. They are being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.

Comments

10 Responses to “Two Charged With Child Abuse”

  1. frank james on November 23rd, 2012 8:03 am

    I work(ed) with Erica and knew her personally. If it’s true that his step father attacked him, then, he should be arrested. Erica should not be jailed for whipping him with a belt. I know she had problems with him. She’s not a villan, she’s an imperfect mother. She’s a nice person. Keep your chin up Erica. You’ll get thru this.

  2. Rhonda on November 17th, 2012 7:58 am

    How can a mother or anyone allow this to happen to any child ???? And thank God Grandma didn’t be quite to protect her child ! Good call Grandma !

  3. Felicia on November 16th, 2012 2:25 pm

    I Think PEOPLE like that sound b shot n the head aint no sence n some one beating a child!!!

  4. Ben Thar on November 16th, 2012 11:58 am

    Rick,

    Your parents spanked your neck with a belt? Did they spank you in the eye with their fists?

  5. Rick on November 16th, 2012 8:00 am

    My punishment from my parents was a whipping with a belt. This wasn’t done often, but if what I had done was bad enough, I got the whipping. Let me tell you something, I never got a whipping for the same thing twice. Once was enough, I learned my lesson. And my parents weren’t arrested or considered child abusers.

  6. 429SCJ on November 16th, 2012 5:53 am

    Amen Solutions.

  7. Jane on November 16th, 2012 5:21 am

    There are limits a parent can be pushed to, but then you get help from the courts or child services or even law enforcement. You don’t abuse the child. You teach them, not beat them. If you can’t take care of them or don’t want them, there are plenty of people who love children and would love to have them!

  8. Mother on November 15th, 2012 7:54 pm

    She’s simply trash! How can a mother allow this to happen to a child she gave birth to. I hope they get a long sentence. Please get some backbone, judges!

  9. trpuble on November 15th, 2012 5:27 pm

    @solutions I couldn’t say it any better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. Solutions on November 15th, 2012 4:54 pm

    Take these two out to a public square and set them on fire. The public will then be a little slower to abuse children and or the elderly. However, as long as our judicial system slaps people like this on the wrist and sends them home, we will continue to read these horrible tales.