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May 26, 2009

Mother, son arrested for child offenses

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Following a three-day investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department into the aggravated sexual assault of two infants, a mother and son have been arrested — the son for allegedly committing the assaults and the mother for not taking action to prevent or report the abuse.

Dickie Paul Bellanger, 21, and Candi Jean Bellanger, 36, were taken into custody Friday morning at their home in the 500 block of South Bolton Street. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of injury to a child. She was charged with two counts of child endangerment. Dickie Bellanger’s total bond was set at $2 million for the four charges he faces.

According to Detective Jason Price, the two children were taken Tuesday evening by their mother to East Texas Medical Center-Jacksonville. After noticing the nature of the injuries, the hospital notified JPD.

“Further examination of both children, an approximately 1-year-old male and an approximately 2-year-old female, showed that their injuries were consistent with sexual assault,” Price said. “The children were treated and released from the hospital and Child Protective Services was called. An emergency placement put the children in the custody of their paternal grandparents, who do not reside in Jacksonville.”

The mother of the children had been dating Dickie Bellanger, but the children do not belong to him. The two had been living together in Candi Bellanger’s home. Detectives interviewed the mother and Candi Bellanger that night.

The next day, County Court at Law Judge Craig Fletcher approved a search warrant for the Bellanger residence, which was carried out Wednesday afternoon.

“We served the search warrant on the house and found it to be in disrepair, with animal feces on the floor and a foul stench permeating the residence. Using forensic lights and tests, we were able to recover forensic evidence from the area of the house where Dickie and the mother resided,” Price said.

Soon after the search, Dickie Bellanger reported to the police station for questioning, during which he denied all wrong-doing.

The department continued the investigation until Thursday evening when the detectives felt confident that they had enough probable cause to arrest both Bellangers.

An attempt was made Thursday night to arrest the two, but no one was home. Price said a second trip out to the house made Friday morning was successful.

“Both were arrested without incident; him for sexually assaulting each of the infants and for other injuries that they sustained, and her for not protecting the children when the nature of the injuries made it obvious that she should have known abuse was going on,” he said. “We believe Candi Bellanger knew the children were being injured, knew that the children were afraid of Dickie, and we have indication that she encouraged the children’s mother to not take action. She was charged under the omission clause of the child endangerment statute.”

According to Price, one of the children was injured so severely that it was “having trouble moving.” JPD officials said they are still investigating the victims’ mother, and have not yet decided what, if any, charges will be brought against her.

Dickie Bellanger’s bonds were set at $750,000 for each of his aggravated sexual assault with a child charges and at $250,000 for each count of injury to a child. His mother’s bond was set at $15,000 for each count of child endangerment by omission. Bond amounts for both were pre-set by Fletcher and were placed by Jacksonville Municipal Judge Pete Menefee.

Emergency protective orders were placed prohibiting both of the defendants from having contact with any children under the age of 17 without CPS being present.

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony with a maximum punishment of life in prison. Injury to a child is a third-degree felony and child endangerment is a state jail felony.

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