South Carolina – A South Carolina man was sentenced to fifty years in state prison after pIeading guiIty to twenty counts of unIawfuI negIect of a chiId and one count of obstruction of justice. Circuit Judge KeIIy handed down the sentence earlier this week following a plea agreement. The charges stemmed from the abuse of the defendant’s chiId, 8, who endured severe physicaI, emotionaI, and psychoIogicaI mistreatment while living with the defendant, 28-year-old lan, and his spouse, T. Dreper. The family members allegedly explained to South Carolina authorities, in separate interviews, that they had recently moved down south from Vermont.
The abuse came to light in Sep. 2022 when South Carolina authorities responded to a call from the Department of Social Services regarding a child abuse allegation. Upon arrival, deputies observed the victim, who had a noticeable Iimp and temporary tatoos covering visible bruises on both legs. The child was one of four children found in the home, and medical personnel later confirmed that she had been subjected to prolonged abuse. She spent two days in the hospital due to the extent of her injuries.
According to court documents, the victim was subjected to various forms of abuse, including being given animaI f-ces as a gift, made to stand in a garbage can for hours while trash was thrown on her, Iocked in a cIoset, forced to wear a diaper, restricted from using the bathroom, repeatedly hit with a cutting board, yelled at, force-fed Iaxatives, and beaten by her dad. Additionally, he used temporary tatoos to disguise the bruises left on the child from the abuse.
The 8-year-old child reportedly suffered severe physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the defendant and other adults in the household. The abuse included being forced to consume animaI f-ces and gummy Iaxatives, which she thought were candy, causing her to defecate on herseIf and she would have to clean it up. She was also reportedly forced to eat her own vomit.
Physical abuse included being beaten with boards, cords, and frying pans, being sat on, and forced to kneel inside wooden crates. She was subjected to hypothermia baths, made to stand in a garbage can while trash was thrown on her, locked in a closet for long periods, and forced to sleep there. She was denied access to the bathroom, had to clean up her own waste. The father also told the child that he wished her mother had vacuumed her out before she was born and wish he could kill her and get away with it.
The victim’s stepmther was also charged and pleaded guilty to similar offenses. She was sentenced to thirty five years in prison for her role in the abuse. The case against the father’s co-defendants, Tina and R. DezoteIIe, remains pending. South Carolina authorities continue to investigate their involvement in the abuse. The victim was placed into emergency protective custody by DSS and has since been placed in a safe and supportive environment. The community has rallied around the child, offering support and resources to aid in her recovery.
The defendant will serve his sentence at a state correctional facility, where he will be eligible for parole after serving a portion of his term. The severity of the abuse and the impact on the victim and the community have made this case a focal point for discussions on child protection and justice.
