2 charged in Morgantown after juvenile says they were hit with a belt for ‘discipline’

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Two people have been charged with child abuse after a juvenile disclosed instances of them using a belt for “discipline” in Morgantown.

On May 28, troopers with the Monongalia County detachment of the West Virginia State Police were present during an interview at the Morgantown Child Advocacy Center regarding a possible child abuse case, according to a criminal complaint.

During that time, troopers met with the adult complainant who told them that Pennsylvania State Police troopers were investigating “an alleged child abuse in their state,” and that the juvenile had said that a man in Morgantown had “struck [them] several times with a belt,” the complaint said. The complainant also said that they believed the incident occurred at a residence in Morgantown prior to May 16.

Troopers then conducted a forensic interview with the juvenile, who told them that Tequila Pase, 25, of Morgantown, was “mean and hits,” and that she used her hand to “smack” and “hit” them which “left marks on [the victim’s] face,” troopers said.

The juvenile also told troopers that Christopher Brown, 33, of Morgantown, “struck [the victim] with a belt and his hand,” and that Brown also struck another juvenile at the residence with a belt, the complaint said.

On May 31, troopers arrived at Pase’s residence and said that they showed Pase a picture of the juvenile’s injuries. Pase told them that the juvenile plays outside and told troopers that “she had recently spoken with [the victim’s] doctor; stating that [the victim] bites [themselves.]”

Also during that time, troopers asked Pase if she had ever confronted Brown about hitting/striking the victim. Pase confirmed that she had done so and told troopers that “Brown said that he doesn’t ‘try’ to hurt” [the victim],” according to the complaint.

On June 1, troopers spoke with Brown at the Morgantown detachment of the West Virginia State Police, and after reading Brown his Miranda rights, troopers said Brown agreed to speak without an attorney present.

During that interview, Brown told troopers that he did “discipline the children with permission from Ms. Pase first,” that he had “smacked [the victim] on [the] backside” and “confirmed that he had used a belt,” around three weeks prior, but that “the belt was the last resort,” according to the complaint.

Pase and Brown have been charged with child abuse resulting in injury. They are being held in North Central Regional Jail on a $3,000 bond.

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