March 18, 2024

Mom charged after daughter, 12, found pregnant

A Newton mother is charged with child endangerment after it was discovered her 12-year-old daughter became preganant as the result of alleged sexual abuse.

Tina M. Durant, 37, was charged Friday following an investigation in which police determined the victim was sleeping in the same bed as Jacob White, 24 of Newton, and was suspected of engaging in sexual behavior between April and May.

During a doctor’s visit the victim was heard telling Durant “I tried to tell you several times,” according to a police report.

Multiple witnesses indicated they had addressed the matter with Durant, but she refused to take any action, according to a police report. After a witness explicitatly told Durant that she had seen the victim engaging in sexual behavior, Durant still failed to protect the victim by notifiying law enforcement, the Department of Human Services or taking any action herself, according to the police report.

White was charged July 17 with third-degree sexual abuse, according to police records. In White’s arrest report it says the victim’s parents reported the alleged abuse after reading her Faceboook conversations with White.

Durant was cited and released. Her initial court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9.

White is not in custody, but has a no contact order with the victim. A court appearance has not been scheduled for his case.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com