Christopher Terrance Daniels… Photo provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department
Christopher Terrance Daniels, 31, of 131 Silver St., has been charged with aggravated child abuse or neglect under Haley’s Law. Haley’s Law makes the abuse of a child under the age of 9 resulting in bodily injury a Class A felony. The law was named in honor the 2004 East Tennessee case of “Baby Haley,” who was badly abused by her father and stepmother.
According to the warrant, Daniels assaulted his ex-girlfriend’s 8-year-daughter in the bathroom of a unit in the Eastgate Apartments.
The warrant states the girl was taking a bath with her sibling when Daniels apparently turned music up really loud and entered the bathroom. Daniels is the father of the sibling.
He then allegedly covered the girl’s mouth and nose with a washcloth, pushed the child’s held under the water and held it there for a period of time, “making her believe she was going to drown.”
According to the warrant, the child told investigators that water went down her throat and nose, “causing her nose, throat and jaw to hurt.” The victim also said when Daniels allowed her to surface, her brother was crying. Daniels then apologized to the girl, the warrant states.
Daniels is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on April 21.
