Topline: Missouri man accused of assaulting his stepdaughter, causing a concussion and severe brain injuries, faces felony child abuse charges with a $500,000 bond.
Published: December 2, 2024 10:42 am ET
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A Missouri man has been arrested following accusations that he repeatedly assaulted his wife’s 12-year-old daughter, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer a concussion.
Dustin Woodrow Pierce is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond on child abuse charges.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance call shortly before 8 p.m. on November 22. Upon arriving at the home, a sheriff went upstairs.
When he made contact with the victim, she was described as hysterical, severely manic, and repeatedly apologizing, investigators wrote in the report.
The victim’s mother told deputies that she had been downstairs while her daughter was in her room upstairs. She explained that Pierce had told the girl to clean the room, but when she refused, Pierce allegedly said, “If you won’t handle this, I will,” and went to the victim’s room. The mother followed him up the stairs, and as she reached the top, she saw Pierce — who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and over 300 pounds — strike the girl in the head near her temple with the back of his hand three times. The mother then called 9-1-1, stating her daughter had lost consciousness.
Pierce allegedly told the girl, “You’re fine and you’re weak.” When the mother intervened and told him not to touch the girl, Pierce reportedly pushed her away and said he was going into town. As Pierce continued yelling at the girl, she was “unable to respond.” When her mother checked on her, the girl began “breathing heavily” and screaming, according to police.
The deputy did not observe any visible injuries, but doctors at the hospital later diagnosed the girl with a concussion and noted she was “unable to maintain a proper balance.”
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood told Lincoln News Now that further medical tests revealed the 12-year-old girl suffered “substantial injuries to her brain” and would need to undergo physical therapy to regain motor functions.
“We have to distinguish between what some might consider reasonable corporal punishment and strikes to the head,” Wood said. “I can’t overstate… striking a child in the head will never be acceptable corporal punishment.”
Court documents reveal that Pierce, a military veteran, suffers from “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder and is scheduled to attend an intensive in-patient PTSD clinic on December 30.
Prosecutors noted that Pierce has specialized military training and is considered a danger to himself and others.
He is set for a bond hearing on Monday, December 2.
If convicted, Pierce could face between 10 and 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Missouri man accused of assaulting his stepdaughter, causing a concussion and severe brain injuries, faces felony child abuse charges with a $500,000 bond.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 2, 2024 10:42 am ET
A Missouri man has been arrested following accusations that he repeatedly assaulted his wife’s 12-year-old daughter, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer a concussion.
Dustin Woodrow Pierce is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond on child abuse charges.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance call shortly before 8 p.m. on November 22. Upon arriving at the home, a sheriff went upstairs.
When he made contact with the victim, she was described as hysterical, severely manic, and repeatedly apologizing, investigators wrote in the report.
The victim’s mother told deputies that she had been downstairs while her daughter was in her room upstairs. She explained that Pierce had told the girl to clean the room, but when she refused, Pierce allegedly said, “If you won’t handle this, I will,” and went to the victim’s room. The mother followed him up the stairs, and as she reached the top, she saw Pierce — who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and over 300 pounds — strike the girl in the head near her temple with the back of his hand three times. The mother then called 9-1-1, stating her daughter had lost consciousness.
Pierce allegedly told the girl, “You’re fine and you’re weak.” When the mother intervened and told him not to touch the girl, Pierce reportedly pushed her away and said he was going into town. As Pierce continued yelling at the girl, she was “unable to respond.” When her mother checked on her, the girl began “breathing heavily” and screaming, according to police.
The deputy did not observe any visible injuries, but doctors at the hospital later diagnosed the girl with a concussion and noted she was “unable to maintain a proper balance.”
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood told Lincoln News Now that further medical tests revealed the 12-year-old girl suffered “substantial injuries to her brain” and would need to undergo physical therapy to regain motor functions.
“We have to distinguish between what some might consider reasonable corporal punishment and strikes to the head,” Wood said. “I can’t overstate… striking a child in the head will never be acceptable corporal punishment.”
Court documents reveal that Pierce, a military veteran, suffers from “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder and is scheduled to attend an intensive in-patient PTSD clinic on December 30.
Prosecutors noted that Pierce has specialized military training and is considered a danger to himself and others.
He is set for a bond hearing on Monday, December 2.
If convicted, Pierce could face between 10 and 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
PTSD-Stricken Veteran Accused of Knocking Out 12-Year-Old for Not Cleaning Her Room
Missouri man accused of assaulting his stepdaughter, causing a concussion and severe brain injuries, faces felony child abuse charges with a $500,000 bond.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 2, 2024 10:42 am ET
A Missouri man has been arrested following accusations that he repeatedly assaulted his wife’s 12-year-old daughter, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer a concussion.
Dustin Woodrow Pierce is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond on child abuse charges.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic disturbance call shortly before 8 p.m. on November 22. Upon arriving at the home, a sheriff went upstairs.
When he made contact with the victim, she was described as hysterical, severely manic, and repeatedly apologizing, investigators wrote in the report.
The victim’s mother told deputies that she had been downstairs while her daughter was in her room upstairs. She explained that Pierce had told the girl to clean the room, but when she refused, Pierce allegedly said, “If you won’t handle this, I will,” and went to the victim’s room. The mother followed him up the stairs, and as she reached the top, she saw Pierce — who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and over 300 pounds — strike the girl in the head near her temple with the back of his hand three times. The mother then called 9-1-1, stating her daughter had lost consciousness.
Pierce allegedly told the girl, “You’re fine and you’re weak.” When the mother intervened and told him not to touch the girl, Pierce reportedly pushed her away and said he was going into town. As Pierce continued yelling at the girl, she was “unable to respond.” When her mother checked on her, the girl began “breathing heavily” and screaming, according to police.
The deputy did not observe any visible injuries, but doctors at the hospital later diagnosed the girl with a concussion and noted she was “unable to maintain a proper balance.”
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood told Lincoln News Now that further medical tests revealed the 12-year-old girl suffered “substantial injuries to her brain” and would need to undergo physical therapy to regain motor functions.
“We have to distinguish between what some might consider reasonable corporal punishment and strikes to the head,” Wood said. “I can’t overstate… striking a child in the head will never be acceptable corporal punishment.”
Court documents reveal that Pierce, a military veteran, suffers from “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder and is scheduled to attend an intensive in-patient PTSD clinic on December 30.
Prosecutors noted that Pierce has specialized military training and is considered a danger to himself and others.
He is set for a bond hearing on Monday, December 2.
If convicted, Pierce could face between 10 and 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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