TOMPKINSVILLE — Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in Cumberland County Circuit Court in the trial of an Allen County woman charged with beating her boyfriend’s 5-year-old son.
Tammy Starks, 37, of Scottsville, was indicted in May 2007 by a Monroe County grand jury on charges of criminal abuse in the first degree involving a child younger than 12; possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (cocaine); possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (methamphetamine); and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Starks was originally scheduled to stand trial in March in Monroe Circuit Court, but the trial was put on hold because a jury without knowledge of the case could not be seated.
According to state law, if a jury cannot be seated in the county where the alleged crime took place, the trial is moved to the closest county in the same judicial district.
The 40th Circuit Court judicial district is composed of Monroe, Cumberland and Clinton counties.
Michael Graves, the boy’s father, was also indicted on charges of complicity to criminal abuse in the first degree; as well as several drug charges. He entered a guilty plea Feb. 22. Prosecutors recommended that the charge of criminal abuse be reduced to criminal facilitation to commit criminal abuse in the first degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Graves’ son had bruises on his back and buttocks that authorities allege were caused by a spanking he received while at his father’s house.
The boy, along with his 9-year-old brother and 6-year-old sister, visited their father and Starks in April 2007.
The day the children returned from the visit, their mother, Emily Milam Moore, of Tompkinsville, said she saw the bruises on the her 5-year-old son.
She contacted the state police who recommended she take him to the Monroe County Medical Center. A social worker there documented the case.
Graves was arrested after state police and a social worker went to his home to question him about the injuries to his son. He was charged on April 21, 2007, with criminal abuse in the first degree, possession of methamphetamine and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
Graves was sentenced to 60 days in jail. An additional sentence of three years was recommended on the drug charges. The sentences will run concurrently. After serving 60 days, Graves was to enroll in a drug program, according to Monroe Circuit Court records.
Graves was set to stand trial in March before he entered his guilty plea.
Starks’ trial is expected to last two days.
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