VERA, OK – An Oklahoma judge issued severe penalties on Wednesday to a couple who restrained a 15-year-old girl to a tree for three days as punishment for what they claimed was her untrustworthiness.
Johnny James, 41, received a 35-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of child abuse and neglect. His partner, Kayla Clark, 42, will serve 30 years following her guilty plea to child neglect and enabling abuse. The victim, who has since been placed with a foster family, shared her experiences in a statement during the sentencing, reflecting on the ordeal that has left her scarred.
The troubling incident came to light on July 28 when deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in Vera, a small town northeast of Tulsa. A woman had reported a teenage girl in distress, tied in a backyard with visible injuries, including a hole in her leg and lesions on her arms. The girl, visiting from Texas, had allegedly been restrained for three days, with the caller surreptitiously providing her with food.
Upon arrival, deputies found the girl near a red shed and chicken coop, seated on a piece of carpet with a bandage on her knee and a ratchet strap fastened around her body. A woman identified by the girl as her grandmother initially claimed ignorance of the situation but later confessed fear of James had kept her silent.
James admitted to deputies that he tied the girl down because he believed she was untrustworthy and deceptive. He claimed the restraint was brief, perhaps just an hour, explaining it was a necessity to prevent her from soiling the indoors. He later acknowledged needing an alternative method to handle her behavior.
Clark, when questioned, said she was unaware of the situation as she was preoccupied with other tasks, such as showering and preparing for church. She claimed not to have noticed the girl outside that morning, attributing her oversight to feeling overwhelmed.
First responders transported the girl to a hospital for treatment, and authorities have since placed her, along with other children from the household, under the care of the Department of Human Services, ensuring their safety and welfare.
The case underscores the grave consequences of child abuse and the importance of vigilant reporting and response by authorities to protect vulnerable individuals from further harm.