Two area residents are facing sexual abuse charges for crimes against a young child.
According to Marshall County Chief Deputy Kevin Cecil, police arrested Carrie Jo Bevel, 22, of Wheeling on Thursday morning and charged her with displaying obscene material to a minor, first-degree sexual abuse and additional, similar charges.
A second person, William Robert Bevel, 31, of Bridgeport, the estranged husband of Carrie Bevel, was arrested later Thursday in East Wheeling, Cecil said. He faces counts of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sexual assault and more charges related to sex crimes against a minor.
Article Photos
WILLIAM BEVEL
According to the criminal complaint, the child had been making disturbing comments at her school about the alleged abuse. Upon hearing the comments, the school's resource officer contacted the sheriff's department and requested an investigation. Cecil said the allegations had been investigated two other times: once in 2007 by the Department of Health and Human Resources after it learned of abuse accusations and again in 2009 by the West Virginia State Police, which investigated sexual abuse claims.
The criminal complaint cites information from three interviews with the victim at Harmony House in May 2009 and November 2010. The alleged abuse took place in 2007 and 2008, Cecil said.
The interviews indicate William and Carrie Bevel allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the 3-year-old victim. In addition, Carrie Bevel allegedly showed pornographic videos to the victim at various times.
The alleged events took place while the couple lived on Roosevelt Street in Benwood.
Carrie Bevel was interviewed by investigators Dec. 9, when she "denied knowledge or involvement in any sexual abuse of (the victim) while in her custody," the complaint states. She confirmed William Bevel lived at the residence with her while the child was present, though she said she did not believe he had abused the alleged victim.
Carrie Bevel was arraigned in front of Ohio County Magistrate Joseph Roxby on Thursday afternoon before being transported to Marshall County, where the alleged offenses took place. She is being held on $100,000 bond.
Cecil was unsure whether William Bevel had been arraigned late Thursday. Information from the Northern Regional Jail indicated no bond had been set in his case.