Despite an increase in cases, Burnett believes child abuse still is under reported.
“People don t want to talk about it, and they keep it secret, they think that it s shameful and so it s not talked about, it’s talked about more now than it used to be,” Burnett said.
Sexual abuse of a child is more likely to be like a recent case in Oklahoma involving Michael David Jackson. He was found guilty of abusing a child under the age of 12. The child was a close relative of Jacksons. The parents of the child relied on Jackson to take care of their child while they were at work.
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This home is really all I got : Booneville condemns house that man lives in Alex Gladden, Fort Smith Times Record
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Jim Phillips has lived in his Booneville home since 2000. The house belonged to his mother and stepfather and had been in the family for generations.
But a couple of months ago, Booneville city officials decided to condemn his house.
“I have nowhere else to go, Phillips said.
Phillips, 45, is disabled and lives on a fixed income. He does not have the money to hire a lawyer and fight the city on its decision.
Fort Smith Times Record
Jim Phillips has lived in his Booneville home since 2000. The house belonged to his mother and stepfather and had been in the family for generations.
But a couple of months ago, Booneville city officials decided to condemn his house.
“I have nowhere else to go, Phillips said.
Phillips, 45, is disabled and lives on a fixed income. He does not have the money to hire a lawyer and fight the city on its decision.
Before the city s move to condemn the house, Phillips received four citations all mandating that he clean up his yard.
Since then, Phillips said he has worked to make sure his yard stays clean.