A Columbus County jury found Parker Spaulding guilty in an assault that left an infant with “life altering injuries.”
He still faces trial for repeatedly raping an adolescent girl while out on bond for injuring the infant.
Parker Spaulding, 29, was found guilty of intentional child abuse, inflicting serious bodily injury in Superior Court today May 7). He was sentenced to 133 to 185 months in prison, or 12-15 years.
In March 2020, Spaulding’s girlfriend, Kayla Michelle Evers, took her 14-month-old baby was taken to New Hanover Regional, the district attorney’s office said in a press release. The child had “broken bones, atypical bruising and significant brain injuries.” She was transported to UNC Chapel Hill Hospital where she underwent months of treatment.
Deputies and Columbus County Social Services were called and initiated an investigation. Spaulding, Evers and Spaulding’s mother Jeanne Spaulding were in the home on Flynn Cemetery Road when the child was hurt over the course of several incidents.
Spaulding, his mother and Evers were all three charged with felony negligent child abuse, causing serious injury.
The sheriff’s office said in a press release about the incident that the infant was left with permanent, “Life altering injuries” that would require care for the remainder of her life.
Evers pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced to 25-42 in prison. That sentence was reduced to six months in prison, with the remainder of the time on supervised probation. Jeanne Spaulding is out on bond awaiting trial.
Spaulding was released on $250,000 secured bond in 2022, and moved in with Mary Angie Barnhill, 39, near Tabor City.
From 2022 until 2025, Spaulding allegedly molested a girl at the residence on multiple occasions. He was arrested in November on multiple charges of indecent liberties with a child, statutory rape and sex offense, second degree forcible sex offence and other charges. He is awaiting trial in that case.
Barnhill was also charged with felony sexual child abuse in that case.
