:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(615x277:617x279)/James-Weems-041525-1-18a7cf97f5634a638a1584054fed35d3.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "Retired Police Chief Sentenced to Life in Jail for Sexually Abusing Youngsters at Spouse’s Daycare")
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A retired police chief in Baltimore was sentenced to life in jail for sexually abusing kids at his spouse’s daycare.
In response to on-line information for the Baltimore County Circuit Court docket reviewed by PEOPLE, James Stanley Weems Jr. was sentenced to life in jail on Monday, April 14.
The sentencing comes after Weems was discovered responsible of three counts of sexually abusing a minor, two counts of second-degree rape and one depend of displaying obscene supplies to a minor in November 2024, on-line information present.
The costs are regarding simply considered one of his alleged victims, who was 10 years outdated on the time of the abuse, WUSA reported. Weems was charged in 2022 with molesting 4 kids at Lil Kidz Kastle Daycare Heart in Owings Mills, Maryland, per the outlet.
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The daycare was owned by his former spouse, Shanteari Weems, who shot him after studying concerning the allegations.
Shanteari pleaded responsible to aggravated assault and carrying a pistol and not using a license and was sentenced to 4 years in jail and two years of supervised launch after the incident, per the Baltimore Banner.
As beforehand reported by PEOPLE, Weems, who retired from the Baltimore police drive in 2005, labored as a bus driver on the daycare for 2 years.
The allegations in opposition to him got here to gentle in July 2022 when his sufferer, who’s now 13, was caught watching pornography and mentioned Weems beforehand confirmed it to her, per WUSA, Baltimore Banner and CBS Information.
Weems is reported to have proven her the sexually express materials on his cellphone and molested her, the retailers reported.
The FBI found that he accessed grownup web sites close to elementary colleges, mapping information from his cellphone, per the retailers.
In response to WMAR, the lady mentioned Weems was the one one that was good to her and would give her snacks. Weems advised her to not inform anybody about what occurred.
WUSA reported in the course of the trial, Shanteari testified that the lady was “delayed for her age and largely stored to herself and her sister,” however recalled Weems allegedly speaking about her and referring to her as his “little buddy” and “my little helper.”
The outlet reported that Weems denied inappropriate relationships with any of the kids, and solely remembered the lady as a “good little lady.”
“I want Mr. James didn’t do these unhealthy issues to me. I want I may cease desirous about them. I simply wish to be an everyday child once more,” the lady wrote in a sufferer impression assertion, per the Baltimore Banner.
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Weems nonetheless faces over 20 extra counts regarding the opposite alleged victims, per WUSA. PEOPLE has reached out to Weems’ illustration for remark.
In the event you suspect baby abuse, name the Childhelp Nationwide Youngster Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Youngster or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is obtainable 24/7 in additional than 170 languages.
