LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—Published media reports about the beating of a baby in Sumner last week have mischaracterized the situation, according to files we viewed this morning.
Local media outlets have two additional people arrested and charged in connection with the beating of a baby in Sumner, for which a Joseph Armes was arrested last week…and the connection isn’t quite the case.
The mother of the 3-month-old injured baby, Ashley Brotherton Armes, is indeed now charged with Aggravated Battery to a Child, in connection with the baby, who continues to be hospitalized at Riley in Indy with a fractured skull and broken ribs. The father of the baby is Joseph Armes.
However, James Choate III, 24, of Sumner, was arrested following the investigation into the Armes baby case…and NOT with abuse of the Armes baby, but on a charge of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. This case, we were told by those in the courthouse this morning, came about when authorities were investigating the Armes ban case, and literally stumbled upon the evidence of alleged sexual abuse…NOT of the injured baby, but of another child in the home (who was removed upon investigation into the entire mess). Choate was residing in the same Cedar Street residence in Sumner with the Armeses. Choate’s charge is a Class X felony.
Both of the Armeses are in jail, as well as Choate. We’ll have more in the upcoming print version, on stands February 18-19…don’t miss it.