A man and woman are being held without bond in the Hall County Jail on charges they attacked a 12-yea-old boy at a residence on South Hall Drive in Flowery Branch. They were arrested early Tuesday morning, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
When deputies arrived, they spoke with witnesses, the victim and one of the adults involved, Miranda Sue Stone, 40, sheriff’s office spokesman Derrick Booth said. The other involved adult, John Richard Atha, 44, of Gainesville, was not at the house when deputies responded.
According to the preliminary investigation, Atha choked the victim by holding the boy by the neck and throwing him against a wall. Atha also struck the victim repeatedly on the back with a belt, causing welts and redness, Booth added.
The investigation also found that Atha allegedly threw the victim against a wall while holding him by the neck during an incident at the same residence the day before.
Deputies determined that Stone, a relative of the victim who lives at the residence, put her hand around the boy’s neck, pushed him against a wall and squeezed his neck, Booth said. She also attempted to grab and strike the victim repeatedly. The offenses involving Stone occurred between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Deputies arrested Stone at the scene, charging her with aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act and first-degree cruelty to children, as well as simple assault under the Family Violence Act.
Atha was arrested Tuesday at approximately 4:00 a.m. when he returned to the home. He was charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and first-degree cruelty to children, as well as battery.
The victim was placed in the care of another family member.