The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office has instituted a child sex crimes task force.
Sheriff Travis Daughtery said he has four deputies who are working almost full time on investigations into allegations of child abuse. Briston Lowery is the lead investigator, Todd Davis is a secondary investigator and handles other investigations as well; David Duggin is handling internet crimes against children and child abuse investigations; and Josh Wilder is assisting in child abuse investigations as he learns the ropes.
Speaking to the higher number of cases coming to light in the county, Daughtery said it is in large part because more people are coming forward with their concerns about children, often family members.
“We are establishing a strong front against such crimes,” Daughtery said. “People believe in what we are doing and feel like there will be justice served.”
The investigators are not out looking for parents or caregivers to persecute, though. Every case investigated has been brought to the sheriff’s attention by schools, community members or family members. Some individuals who interact with children regularly, such as school staff, child care providers and physicians, are required by law to report any suspicions they have of child abuse.
Then it is up to the investigators to pick up the allegations and check into them.
“The mentality here is that we are not going to leave a child in that kind of situation and sleep at night,” Daughtery said.
The change in the number of reported suspected cases is also due in part to a change in the mindset of residents. Child abuse has been going on, probably, since the dawn of time and in some regions or cultures has become part of the fabric of society. The investigative “lions” aim to shred that fabric and reweave the culture into a safe one for children.
“It became normal to look past it and not look at it,” Daughtery said. That is no longer the case.
Daughtery is well aware that some people are skeptical of allegations, saying they are products of a jealous spouse, ex-spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend.
“They conduct these forensic interviews where there is no one there who can coach the victim. We protect against that (coaching to produce allegations),” Daughtery said.
The interviews, he said, are conducted so that the child feels safe, like they are talking with a caring adult in a home setting. Some of the work is so laid back the child is unaware there is an interview going on; they see it more as a conversation. The investigators can watch the interview through a one-way device so the victim is unaware they are being observed.
As more arrests are made, while the accused is waiting trial or other court proceedings, the investigators’ work continues. This allows for more charges to be added, more evidence to be logged and better prosecution prepared. It also allows charges to be lowered or dropped.
Investigator Lowrey is the one who came up with the term “Lions” for his team. He said the children need someone with the voice of a lion to speak up for them and the image of a lion shows the investigators’ devotion to the children in their time of need.
Anyone who is a victim of abuse or suspects child abuse should contact the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department at 623-5111.