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Written by: E. George
Published May 17, 2023 @ 7:40 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
MACON, Ga. – On April 28, 2023, a Jones County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived at Clifton Ridge Middle School to assist with a child abuse investigation. A DFCS worker explained that she had been contacted by a school counselor regarding marks on a child’s back and arms.
The juvenile had told the counselor his foster father, Lejohnny Mims, “whooped him with a leather belt” on April 27 as punishment. The officer and DFCS worker proceeded to the John Michael Drive residence to speak with Mims and other family members.
Upon arrival, they learned that Mims had brought a child to an appointment, but his cousin called him, asking him to return home. He walked in shortly after with two juveniles and stated that his oldest adopted son ran away earlier in the week.
He said the juvenile returned the night prior and snuck into the home through another child’s window carrying alcohol and marijuana. He suspected the children of drinking alcohol and spanked one of the boys on his backside with a belt.
He denied hitting the child’s back and arms, saying he obtained the marks from tree limbs while they completed yard work. The DFCS worker then began interviewing each child.
The officer noted that the first child “was very soft-spoken as if he was scared for Mims to hear him.” Another child stated that his older brother “had come home with a friend, bringing alcohol and marijuana with them.”
He said the other boys left running when Mims discovered them, and then Mims began questioning him about drinking. He denied it and “even had his siblings smell his breath;” however, Mims grabbed a leather belt and spanked him on the rear.
At first, he said he received the marks on his back and arms from yard work but lowered his head when the DFCS worker explained that they matched those made by a belt, not tree limbs. They took photographs of all his injuries.
The officer noted that the markings appeared bruised and raised from the broken skin, coinciding with belt lashings. When Mims walked outside, attempting to turn over the alcohol, they questioned him again about the marks.
Mims said he was trying to discipline the boy and “thought it was legal to spank your child.” They informed him, “It is, but you are not allowed to leave [such] markings.”
When asked about the household and food situations, a child said, “Mims usually leaves them small things to eat,” like Hot Pockets. At this point, the decision was made to remove all children from the residence.
One child went to his grandmother’s house in Twiggs County, and a foster program picked up the remaining juveniles. While waiting for the children to pack their belongings, the officer noticed that two of them “began playing basketball and running around as if they were happy to be leaving.”
Once the juveniles left the property, the officer handcuffed Mims and transported him to the Jones County Jail. He was charged with first-degree cruelty to children – deprivation of sustenance – family violence. This case is currently pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On Friday April 28, 2023 I Deputy Z. Allen was dispatched to Clifton Ridge Middle School in reference to an agency assist with Jones County Department of Children services.
Upon my arrival I met with DFACS worker [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] advised she was investigating a child abuse incident which occurred at [100 BLOCK] John Michael Dr. [REDACTED] stated she was contacted by the school counselor regarding marks left on [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
According to the counselor [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was punished on April 27, 2023 by his foster father LeJohnny Mims. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised Mims whooped him with a leather belt leaving marks on his lower back and arms. Myself and [REDACTED] then proceeded to [100 BLOCK] John Michael Dr to speak with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Mims.
Upon our arrival we met with Mims cousin [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who advised Mims was not there, that he took a child to an appointment. [REDACTED] asked if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was there which he stated he was unsure who was at the residence. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then called Mims to return home, myself and [REDACTED] waited for his arrival.
Shortly later Mims arrived with two other juveniles. [REDACTED] advised Mims as to why we were there. Mims advised earlier in the week his oldest adopted son [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had ran away. Mims states [REDACTED BY AGENCY] returned last night and attempted to sneak in through another child’s window.
Mims advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had brought alcohol and marijuana with him. When Mims realized [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was home, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left the residence again. Mims then punished [REDACTED BY AGENCY] due to him thinking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was drinking the alcohol.
Mims began spanking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with a leather belt on his back side. Mims denied hitting [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on the arms and back, but stated he was spanking him on his rear. Mims advised the marks on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] arms was from tree limbs when they were doing yard work.
[REDACTED] began interviewing the foster children one at time. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was the first child [REDACTED] spoke with. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was very soft spoken as if he was scared for Mims to hear him. I was unable to hear the exact details [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was telling [REDACTED]. I allowed [REDACTED] to finish speaking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] without interrupting.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY], which is also Mims adopted son was the next juvenile [REDACTED] spoke with. [REDACTED] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] as to why she was there and asked him what had happened. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated his older brother [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had came home with a friend bringing alcohol and marijuana with them.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated when Mims found out they were there the boys left running on foot. Mims began questioning [REDACTED BY AGENCY] about drinking alcohol which he denied and even had his siblings smell his breath. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] states Mims then grabbed a leather belt and began spanking him on the rear.
When asked about the marks on his arms, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated the marks were from yard work. [REDACTED] began telling [REDACTED BY AGENCY] the marks on his arms matched that of a belt mark and not tree limbs. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then lowered his head. [REDACTED] began taking pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] arms and back.
Upon inspection of the marks, they coincide with that of a belt. The markings were bruised and raised from the broken skin. At this point Mims walked back outside with the alcohol attempting to turn it over to [REDACTED]. Mims was again questioned about the markings which he advised he was attempting to discipline his child.
Mims stated he thought it was legal to spank your child. Mims was advised that it is, but you are not allowed to leave markings that were on [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Mims advised several times, that he thought he was doing the right thing disciplining his child.
[REDACTED] then spoke with the next foster child [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised he has only been at the house for a little over a week. He advised he heard the beginning of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] getting in trouble, at this point he covered his ears and walked away advising he didn’t want to hear or see it.
[REDACTED] began asking more questions about the household since he has been there. When questioned about food and eating situations, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Mims usually leaves them small things to eat, then used hot pockets as an example.
[REDACTED] then spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who is a foster child and also [REDACTED BY AGENCY] brother. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated he did not see any of it. At this point [REDACTED] made the decision to remove all children from the residence. We stood by while [REDACTED] found placement for all the children.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to go to his grand mothers house in Twiggs county, while a foster program picked the rest of the juveniles up. We stood by while all children packed their belongings. While standing by, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began playing basketball and running around as if they were happy to be leaving.
Upon the juveniles leaving, I placed Mims in handcuffs to the front. Mims was cleared of any weapons and transported to the Jones County Jail and turned over to jail staff. Mims will be charged with Cruelty to Children in the first degree, Family violence act.
[End of Narrative]
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