Teen brothers charged with rape of 2-year-old girl
From Staff Reports
A 19-year-old Greene County man and his 15-year-old brother have been charged with sexually molesting a 2-year-old girl.
Joseph Herman Beckwith Jr., 19, and Jeremiah Randall Beckwith, 15, both of Leakesville, are charged with sexually assaulting the toddler sometime during the summer of 2016 when she was between 2-3 years old. Greene County Sheriff Stanley McLeod said the two were taken into custody on Tuesday. McLeod said the case was referred to his office by the Department of Human Services, which currently has custody of the child, who is now approximately four. New evidence in the case, McLeod said, led to the arrests.
Due to the nature of the case, Sheriff McLeod disclosed few details of the ongoing investigation. He did say, however, the victim was related to the suspects and that the alleged assaults went far beyond inappropriate touching. He added the suspects admitted the abuse to investigators.
“This case is one of the most disturbing sexual abuse cases I have encountered in my career in law enforcement,” McLeod said.
Joseph Herman Beckwith Jr., of 205 Dobbins Avenue, is charged with one count of statutory rape and two counts of child molestation. He is currently being held in the Greene County Jail on a $100,000 bond, which was set Wednesday during the Beckwiths’ initial appearance in Greene County Justice Court.
The younger Beckwith, who is reportedly a high school freshman, is being charged as an adult with two counts of statutory rape in the case. His bond was set at $25,000 and he is currently being held in a Jackson County facility that houses youth offenders charged with major felonies.
The charges against the two will be presented to the next Greene County Grand Jury for consideration. Both suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. It is unclear whether the two are represented by legal counsel. They did not have an attorney present with them during their bond hearings.
They don’t deserve a trial….
I can’t believe their bonds are so low… The system is surely failing this little baby girl…
This is so disturbing and sick, why is the youngest boy’s bond is so much lower than his older brothers both of their bonds should have been at least 300,000. But they deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison and best believe they’ll get what is coming to them.
It’s true innocent until proven guilty, but they admitted to the crime! No need in wasting tax payers money. Convict them an begin their time.
I just read this disturbing and despicable crime in an article in my local paper.
This is an evil and sickening act! My heart breaks for this child! Children are precious! We should do everything in our power to end this! These young men that violated this poor child that thought she would never be able to tell, only Proves they Will do it again and next time they will leave no witnesses!
Is this what we want – repeat violators; because this is exactly what will happen! There is no such thing as rehabilitation for pedophiles, molesters or rapist!
They will continue to prey on innocent babies, children or women for that matter in the future when they get out! Too many of our children are being violated and killed because our system and our laws fail them!
They both should be put away forever! They damaged this child mentally for the rest of her life and therefore do not deserve freedom! We do not want this kind of person walking freely among us on our streets to do as they please and to do harm and be able hurt someone else for their disgusting pleasures! It’s like turning a maniac loose in a candy store!
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to voice my feelings on this contemptible crime! The act truly infurriates me! Our precious children are very dear to my heart! So I only have contempt for the perpetrators who has admitted to their guilt! They should not have a day in court – They should go straight to jail for the rest of their lives! Also, let me add, when someone commit murder and 100% proven with no doubt what so ever – they need to be executed by an injection!
These two are men not children they need the worse punshiment ever death is to easy for them
This baby and her parents will hurt the rest of their lives
That BABY girls nightmares will last a lifetime as should those MENS PUNISHMENT and should begin immediately…. When they admit it That should omit a trial and punishment should begin…..
Your tax money has been feeding, clothing, housing, and providing medical treatment for these two monsters since they were arrested. Let that sink in.
When the innocence of a child is broken, rarely is it ever fixed.?These sickos should not have a trial, if they can’t be hung, send them to prison with a bunch of daddy’s, case will be taken care of then!