Following an investigation involving the Licking Police Department and the Missouri Department of Family Services, a Licking man and woman each face felony child abuse charges.
Related to their roles in a case that began late last year, Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr. on Jan. 14 issued a warrant for the arrest of Joanne D. Harris, 58, and her son Laramie Q. Harris, 30, both of 221 Charles St. in Licking. According to a probable cause statement sent to Stevens by an investigating LPD officer, the suspects allegedly handcuffed three juvenile victims to beds inside the residence on multiple separate occasions, leaving them in that position for extended periods of time as punishment for perceived unruly behavior.
The investigation began Dec. 18 when a DFS Children’s Division investigator made contact with Licking police after receiving information on a hotline call.
Joanne and Laramie Harris are each charged with two counts of abuse or neglect of a child (a class C felony) and are held at the Texas County Jail on $250,000 bond apiece.