Parents indicted on abuse charges to be arraigned today

Three parents indicted Thursday by a grand jury on felony charges relating to alleged child abuse are scheduled to appear for arraignment today in Hardin Circuit Court.

Barry Wayne Williams Jr., 21, was indicted Thursday for one count of murder.

According to the indictment, Williams “wantonly engaged in conduct” Feb. 25, which “created a grave risk of death” to his 6-month-old daughter, Aleyah Noelle Williams.

Williams remains lodged at Hardin County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 cash bond.

Also indicted were Alexander Michael Lee Irwin, 18, and Jessica A. Capponi, 19. Both face charges of first-degree criminal abuse while Irwin also is charged with first-degree assault.

Irwin and Capponi “intentionally” abused their 3-month-old son — identified only as L.C. —  by “causing serious physical injury,” “placing L.C. in a situation that may cause him serious physical injury” or “causing torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment,” the grand jury alleged.

Both teens are lodged at the detention center where Capponi is held in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond and Irwin, $50,000.

An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

OTHER INDICTMENTS:

• April Marie McGonigle, 32, three counts of theft of identity, theft by deception less than $500, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and first-degree persistent felony offense
• Stephen T. Werner Jr., 25, flagrant non-support
• Monty Dale Hart Jr., 33, flagrant non-support
• Michael Lee Aubrey Jr., 35, first-degree bail jumping and second-degree persistent felony offense
• Joshua Paul Lynch, 32, theft by unlawful taking more than $500 but less than $10,000 and second-degree persistent felony offense
•  Rodney Foy, 45, first-degree persistent felony offense
• Perri Ray Jackson, 52, first-degree bail jumping
• Barbara M. Bush, 30, flagrant non-support
• Donna M. Toliver, 37, three counts of theft by deception less than $10,000 and theft by deception less than $500
• Dietrick Allen Osborne, 55, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance equal to or more than 2 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug and possession of drug paraphernalia
• James R. Brady, 21, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument
• Elbert Wease, 50, receiving stolen property more than $500 but less than $10,000
•  William D. Carmen, 50, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine
• Samantha N. Simpson, 37, tampering with physical evidence, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine, fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.