Parents Charged In Child Abuse, Assault Case

Sarah and Matthew Coker (CCSO)

Deputies found a four-year-old crying and the child’s father unresponsive when they went to serve a warrant on the child’s mother.

Matthew Coker, 36, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse, according to warrants and detention center reports. His wife Sarah Coker, 35, was charged with two counts of simple assault after an unrelated incident. Both were released on secured bond. Their address was listed as 4700 Richard Wright Road, Tabor City.

The sheriff’s office reported that Sgt. F. Blanton went to the home to serve assault warrants on Mrs. Coker. She told the sergeant that her husband was supposed to be taking are of the child, “but was intoxicated after being out all night drinking.”

Mrs. Coker asked Blanton to check on Coker, who was on the bed with the crying child and a loaded handgun. Coker did not initially respond to Blanton, the report said.

The child was originally turned over to Mrs. Coker, but later a social worker gave the child to a grandmother. Mrs. Coker told Blanton that she was in fear of boy her life and that of the child due to her husband’s past history.

Mrs. Coker was charged with two counts of simple assault. On Nov. 21, she was alleged to have slapped her husband on both sides of the face and bitten his upper arm. Coker swore out the warrants against his wife.

About Jefferson Weaver 2521 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at jeffersonweaver@ColumbusCountyNews.com.

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