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| Meridian
Posted: 2:45 PM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 7:23 PM Jul 2, 2008
Reporter: Andrea Williams
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| 19-year-old Paul Harris is facing a charge of felony child abuse involving his 4-month-old
daughter. According to family members of the 4-month-old, the abuse was discovered when
the child's mother picked her up from staying the night with the father, who is the accused in the case. With her going
in and out of conscousness, they say the child was immediately taken to a Meridan hospital and then transporteed to a hospital
in Jackson where she had fractured ribs, bruises to the face, legs and back and bleeding to the brain. "In this particular case it doesn't appear that it will be hard to prove. Prior to the baby being
taken to the biological father's residence, the mother of the child was leaving one of the local clinic's where the
child was having a check up and was in good shape. It's evident by that whatever happened to the child happened while
the father had custody of the child," says Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose. So
far, investigators say the suspect has not given a statement in the case. Bond for Harris has been set at 15-thousand dollars and his case is expected to go before a grand jury in
November. A conviction for felony child abuse can result in up to 20 years in prison. As
for the condition of the baby, investigators say she was recently released from the hospital and still on medication to treat
swelling to the brain. Despite this Chief Dubose says... "I was told that they expect
a full recovery," says Dubose. |
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JACKSON, Miss. — A college business professor who allegedly punished one of his children by covering the
boy with ants and putting pepper juice in his eyes has been sentenced to two years in prison for child abuse.
Hinds County Circuit Judge L. Breland Hilburn sentenced Alcorn State University professor Festus Oguhebe on Monday to five
years in prison with three years suspended and two to serve.
Oguhebe, a Byram resident, pleaded no contest in October to one count of child abuse. With a no contest plea, a defendant
is not admitting guilt, but is not contesting the charges.
The judge allowed Oguhebe to remain free on bond until Jan. 5.
Oguhebe, a native of Nigeria, was arrested in March 2005 on five counts of felony child abuse, stemming from the bizarre
punishment methods he allegedly used on his 11-year-old son.
The punishment included “placing him in a bathtub, then putting hot pepper juice in his eyes, on his penis and buttocks;
and also by tying his hands behind his back and covering his body with ants,” according to court records.
Oguhebe had maintained that he used punishments that were customary in his native Africa
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