Two Hamilton Township women are behind bars after children in their care ran away from home and told deputies they were being physically abused. The reports from the kids sparked a full-on criminal investigation and led authorities to remove several children from the residence. Officials say the women now face serious felony counts that will be handled in Franklin County court.
How Deputies Say The Case Came To Light
According to WSYX, the suspects are 47-year-old Julie Barfield and 43-year-old Kim Brown-Barfield. They are booked on charges of felonious assault and endangering children and were scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Deputies were flagged down on Spruce Court after a neighbor reported that two children had shown up carrying backpacks and a laundry basket, saying they had run away. The children involved range in age from 1 to 11, and Franklin County Children's Services has taken custody of six kids, according to the station.
Children's Accounts And Court Documents
In an affidavit of probable cause, the children told deputies they fled the home because they were being abused. They described being slammed into walls, hit with belts and burned with scalding water.
Court documents state that investigators interviewed the adults and that both women made what the affidavit refers to as "soft admissions" to witnessing and being involved in the physical abuse. Those details come from court paperwork reviewed by reporters, as reported by WSYX.
Charges, Arraignment And Custody
Franklin County Children's Services stepped in to take custody of the children while the sheriff's office continues its investigation. Franklin County Children's Services is the county agency that oversees child-protection interventions and placements when abuse is alleged, and it will work with prosecutors and the courts as the case moves forward.
The two women are scheduled for an initial appearance in Franklin County Municipal Court, where prosecutors will formally outline the charges and discuss possible next steps in the case.
Legal Context
Felonious assault and endangering children are criminal offenses under Ohio law, with penalties that depend on the degree of harm and any prior convictions. Felonious assault can be charged as a felony of the first or second degree depending on the circumstances, while endangering children can range from a misdemeanor to a felony when a child suffers serious physical harm. The statutory language and potential penalties are detailed in Ohio Revised Code §2903.11 and Ohio Revised Code §2919.22.
What Happens Next
At arraignment, the court will address bail, appoint or confirm legal counsel and set the case on a schedule as it moves through the system. The women remain presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Investigators say they plan to continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical and documentary evidence.
If you have information about this case or concerns about a child, you can contact the Franklin County Children's Services 24-hour hotline at (614) 229-7000. For non-emergency information about active criminal investigations, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office can be reached at (614) 525-3333.
