Stoddard County man charged with abusing infant daughter requests bond

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter man charged with child abuse and neglect has filed a motion in a Stoddard County court requesting that bond be set in his case, the Daily Statesman newspaper reported.

Vabian Allen Webb, 18, was arrested in early June on Stoddard County warrants for felony endangering the welfare of a child and felony child abuse.

Webb, along with the child's mother, Amanda Knight Garrett, are accused of neglecting their 3-month-old infant daughter by not feeding her or caring for her properly.

Webb filed a motion on Friday requesting that bond be set in his case because the couple was given no bond when arrested.

His attorney, Amanda Altman of Jackson, alleges that the denial of bond in this case is a violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 20 of the Missouri Constitution that she states "provides that all persons be bailable by sufficient sureties, except in capital offenses, when proof is evident or the presumption is great."

Altman states in the motion that because Webb is not charged with a capital offense, he is entitled to have bond set and that it should be "reasonable."

She goes on to add that he has no criminal history and the child will not be in his custody.

The child is currently in state custody and is reportedly thriving and gaining weight.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn states that the crime victim also has rights in the case.

In Section 32, Article 8.2 of the Missouri Constitution states, "notwithstanding section 20 of article I of this Constitution, upon showing that the defendant poses a danger to a crime victim, the community or any other person, the court may deny bail or may impose special conditions which the defendant and surety must guarantee."

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

It is not known whether a special hearing will be scheduled or if the matter will be taken up at the preliminary hearing.

The couple was arrested and given no bond. They are currently being held in the Stoddard County Jail.