July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A man and woman who allegedly used a taser on a five-year-old child have been indicted for child abuse and aggravated child abuse.
35-year-old Mark Dwayne Cantrell of Smithville and 39-year-old Nikesha Danielle Cooper of McMinnville will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7. Bond for Cantrell is $200,000 and $300,000 for Cooper.
According to the nine-count indictment, the offenses occurred on or about August 26, 2021 when the child was five years old until August 25, 2022. The child’s date of birth is July 27, 2016.
“This was a situation where a taser was used on the child”, District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway told WJLE Thursday.
Both Cantrell and Cooper are co-indicted for two counts of aggravated child abuse and four counts of child abuse. Cooper is also indicted for one additional count of aggravated child abuse and two additional counts of child abuse.
The counts against the two for aggravated child abuse allege that “On or about August 26, 2021 to August 25, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Cantrell and Cooper did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, abuse (victim), a child under 18 years of age, such act of abuse, neglect, or endangerment was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, or involved the infliction of torture to the victim, thereby committing the offense of aggravated child abuse in violation of state law”
The counts against Cantrell and Cooper for child abuse allege that “On or about August 26, 2021 to August 25, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Cantrell and Cooper did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, abused or neglected, and inflicted injury on (victim), a child under 18 years of age, such act of abuse or neglect so as to adversely affect the child’s health and welfare, thereby committing the offense of child abuse in violation of state law”.