Dad jailed for slugging child who turned down soft drink

A man allegedly hit his 6-year-old son in the face after the child told him he couldn’t drink juice or soda.

Courtesy Roane County Sheriff's Office

Brent Isaac Litton

Brent Isaac Litton, 29, is charged with child abuse in the incident.

According to the warrant, Roane County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Walker was dispatched to 123 Willow Springs Road, Ten Mile, on Dec. 30 in reference to a domestic call.

“Upon arrival I made contact with the complainant, Brenda Yates,” the warrant said. “The complainant stated that her daughter April Yates invited her over to eat dinner with her and her boyfriend, the offender Brent Litton, and their kids.”

Brenda Yates said when everyone was fixing their plates, Litton’s son told his father he wanted water because he was sick and couldn’t drink juice or cola.

“The victim said his mom’s boyfriend told him that,” the warrant said. “The complainant stated that the offender became very angry and hit the victim in the face busting his nose and mouth.”

Brenda Yates, according to the warrant, told Litton he better not hit the child again.

“He jumped up and came after her,” the warrant said. “The complainant stated that this is not the first time this has happened, and that the offender has anger problems.”

Litton was arrested again on Jan. 2. That arrest was for failing to comply with his bond conditions on the child abuse charge.

“I, Deputy Walker, received a call from the victim’s mother, Kimberly Litton, stating that the offender was having his mother call her cell phone asking if the offender could talk to the victim,” the warrant for failing to comply with bond conditions said. “Kimberly Litton has a voice mail on her phone from the offender’s mother stating she was calling because Brent wanted to talk to his son.”

When Litton was released from jail on the child abuse charge, he was prohibited from contacting his son.

“The defendant is prohibited from harassing, annoying, telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the alleged victim, either directly or indirectly,” the order granting him bond states.

Litton signed the order.

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Joey C. Ray and April Michelle Wakeman are scheduled to appear in Roane County General Sessions Court on Feb. 11.

Both are charged with unlawful drug paraphernalia and initiation of process to manufacture meth.

The charges stem from a Dec. 31 traffic stop in Kingston. Officer Lawrence Russell stopped a Dodge Caravan for speeding.

“Upon checking with central dispatch on the occupants in the van, they did verify that Joey Ray ... did have an active (failure to appear) warrant out of Roane County,” the report said.

Dispatch also advised that Wakeman’s driver’s license was suspended.

Ray was arrested on the warrant, and Wakeman was arrested for driving on a suspended license.

Russell was later summoned to Gary’s Towing about something suspicious in the van.

The tow truck driver said there was a strong odor coming from the back of the van.

“He further stated that when he opened the back hatch, he saw a syringe sticking out of an insulated cooler,” the report said.

Russell checked it out and reported finding two syringes, tubing, Coleman fuel, liquid drain cleaner, Drano crystals, aluminum foil, coffee filters, Lithium batteries and Sudafed.

“Through my training, I know these to be all known components for making methamphetamine,” the report said.