The father of a 5-year-old girl in Northwest Arkansas is facing several charges after he allegedly hid his daughter in a tight space behind the wall to try to keep DCF from taking her.
On November 1, a 40-year-old man who is out of bail for a drug charge was at his parents’ Tontitown residence with his daughter.
According to reports, the Department of Human Services was sent to take the 5-year-old from the home, and they had law enforcement accompany them when they went to the residence.
Before they arrived, the man reportedly tried to hide the girl in an 8 x 4-foot space behind a wall in the closet to try to keep them from taking her.
When the authorities got there, they decided to surround the home in case the man tried to run away with the girl. They knocked on the door, but he allegedly refused to answer. He reportedly told them she was not at the residence. He showed them proof that the court awarded him custody of his daughter.
The DHS worker produced paperwork showing that the order was changed. The man allowed them to enter. They followed him into a bedroom, and he reportedly removed a piece of the wall. The youngster was inside, and the authorities took her from the home.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Washington County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of interference with custody, first-degree false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a minor, and possession of body armor and drug paraphernalia. He was released three days after his arrest after posting a $5,000 bond, and he is currently scheduled for a court appearance at the beginning of December.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.