A mother and stepfather are accused of beating the woman’s child on multiple occasions during the past year, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday.
Warrants were taken for Crystal Williams, 33 and Jeffery Lee Williams, 43, on Wednesday after the Division of Family and Children Services notified the sheriff’s office of the abuse at the Gainesville couple’s home, Lt. Scott Ware said.
An investigation revealed the abuse began June 15, 2017 when Crystal Williams beat the child with a paddle, causing bruising on the child’s buttocks and thigh area, Ware said.
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The most recent case of alleged abuse occurred between June 1 and Aug. 17, when Ware said Jeffrey Lee Williams forced the child to carry heavy loaded buckets and tires across the yard in hot weather. Williams allegedly withheld water from the child during the strenuous work.
On Aug. 16, Ware said Crystal Williams beat the child with a paddle causing severe bruising on the child’s back, kidney and buttocks. That same day, Jeffery Lee Williams repeatedly beat the child causing him to fall against a stone/rock fire pit, Ware said. The child suffered multiple bruises on his leg and thighs.
The child is healing from his injuries and is in the custody of his biological father, Ware said.
Crystal Williams is out of the Hall County jail on bond and faces two counts of first degree cruelty to children. Jeffrey William remains in jail and faces one count each of first and second degree child cruelty charges.
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