Kentucky: After 4-year-old girl mauled for 2nd time by the family pit bull; charges are filed against Elizabeth Waters and Jeremy Hayes

KENTUCKY -- Two Madisonville residents were charged this week for allegedly owning a vicious animal after a 4-year-old living in the home was attacked by the family dog [for the 2nd time].

Elizabeth Lynn Waters, 27, was charged Tuesday with harboring a vicious animal and second-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 years of age on a Hopkins County warrant.

Her partner, 39-year-old Jeremy Michael Hayes, was charged Monday with harboring a vicious animal.

  

According to an arrest report written by Madisonville Police Department Officer Zack Render, Waters' 4-year-old daughter was attacked by the family's pit bull Nov. 12 at their home at 380 Country Club Lane.

The child had lacerations to her face so severe, she required helicopter transport for emergency surgery, Render wrote.

It was not the first time the dog had attacked the child, the report said. She had required medical attention once before when the dog bit her.

According to Kentucky statutes, a person is guilty of second-degree criminal abuse when he or she "wantonly abuses another person or permits another person of whom he has actual custody to be abused and thereby causes serious physical injury or places him in a situation that may cause him serious physical injury ... to a person 12 years of age or less." It is a Class D felony punishable by one-five years in prison.

Harboring a vicious animal is a violation and is punishable by up to a $200 fine, no more than 60 days in jail and, at the judge's discretion, destruction of the animal.

Waters and Hayes were taken to Hopkins County Jail. Hayes was released Tuesday on his own recognizance and Waters was released Tuesday on a $1,000 cash bail bond.

ELIZABETH LYNN WATERS' CRIMINAL HISTORY:

June 20, 2016 - Madisonville Police Arrest Reports Released
Elizabeth L. Waters, Madisonville, was charged June 19 with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs/etc. - first offense.

November 23, 2016 - Madisonville Police Arrest Reports Released
Elizabeth L. Waters of Madisonville was charged Hopkins County warrant for harboring a vicious animal and second-degree criminal abuse – child 12 or under.

First Name: ELIZABETH
Last Name: WATERS
Middle Name: LYNN
Gender: Female
Race: White
Arrest Number: 998061763
Arrest Date: 2016-11-22 12:00:00
Address: MADISONVILLE, KY
City: MADISONVILLE
State: Kentucky
County: Hopkins
Zip: 42431
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Weight: 106 lbs
Height: 5' 0"
Agency: MADISONVILLE POLICE DEPT.
Booking Date: 2016-11-22 07:39:00
Charges:
#1 HARBORING A VICIOUS ANIMAL
#2 CRIMINAL ABUSE 2ND DEGREE-CHILD 12 OR UNDER

JEREMY MICHAEL HAYES CRIMINAL HISTORY:

First Name: JEREMY
Last Name: HAYES
Middle Name: MICHAEL
Gender: Male
Race: White
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Weight: 260 lbs
Height: 6' 2"
Address: MADISONVILLE, KY
City: MADISONVILLE
State: Kentucky
County: Hopkins
Zip: 42431

NOVEMBER 19, 2011
Name: Jeremy M. Hayes
Arrest age: 35
Agency: KENTUCKY STATE POLICE
Booking Date: 2011-11-19 02:45:29
Charges:
#1 FAILURE TO OR IMPROPER SIGNAL
#2 FAILURE TO NOTIFY ADDRESS CHANGE TO DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION
#3 OPER MTR VEH U/INFLU ALC/DRUGS/ETC. .08 - 1ST OFF

DECEMBER 29, 2015
Name: Jeremy M. Hayes
Arrest age: 38
Agency: MADISONVILLE POLICE DEPT.
County: Hopkins County, KY
Arrest Number: 998053800
Arrest Date: 2015-12-29 12:00:00
Charge:
#1 ASSAULT, 4TH DEGREE (CHILD ABUSE)

NOVEMBER 21, 2016
Arrest Number: 998061759
Arrest Date: 2016-11-21 12:00:00
Agency: MADISONVILLE POLICE DEPT.
Booking Date: 2016-11-21 21:22:00
Charge:
#1 HARBORING A VICIOUS ANIMAL

(The Messenger - Nov 24, 2016)