Yahoo News Judge unveils charges in horrific child abuse case; additional defendants make appearance
Apr. 26—CATLETTSBURG — Boyd County Circuit Judge George Davis listed all 38 charges against an Ashland couple accused of heinous child abuse in open court on Friday.
The multitude of charges come after a Boyd County grand jury issued a superseding indictment in the case involving Kayla Marie Frazier, 32, and Austin Adam Frazier, 27, who were arrested after a young girl escaped from their home in January.
Friday marked the first court appearance for the couple following an investigation that led to a superseding indictment, in which a grand jury elected to upgrade initial charges.
Male inmates in the background of a video conference streaming from the Boyd County Jail appeared visibly resentful as Davis listed each of the counts against the Fraziers, which include charges of female genital mutilation and sexual abuse that, per the indictment, caused permanent disfigurement to the child.
Austin Frazier, appearing from a different jail space than the remainder of inmates on screen, was called to the podium first.
Commonwealth's Attorney Rhonda Copley said certain discovery was now available to Austin's court-appointed attorney, Brandon West, and requested the court start looking at available trial dates.
West entered a not guilty plea to all counts on Austin's behalf.
Kayla Frazier, appearing in the same room as other female defendants on the docket, was called next.
Contrary to Austin, Kayla shed a few tears, wiping her eyes periodically as Davis took his time reading all 18 counts she faced.
Kayla Frazier's attorney, Joseph Thompson, was appointed by the Department of Public Advocacy as conflict counsel considering the four total defendants allegedly involved will not share attorneys.
Of the 18 charges are kidnapping, complicity to female genital mutilation, two counts of complicity to sexual abuse and 11 counts of first-degree criminal child abuse. Kayla Frazier had a brief appearance of bewilderment as Davis read second-degree animal cruelty at the end of the list.
The animal cruelty charge was tacked on to both the Fraziers' new indictment, alleging the couple beat, kicked and injured a dog.
The girl's request for help from neighbors in January and a follow-up investigation led to the arrest of two additional men who also appeared alongside Austin Frazier in the segregated jail space on Friday.
Kirk D. Mount, 47, was arrested and later indicted on charges of first-degree child abuse, kidnapping and failure to report child neglect or abuse after police said he admitted to "excessively spanking" the girl while she was left in his care on multiple occasions.
According to court documents, Mount also admitted to "putting the child in a gun safe and turning the gun safe backwards against the wall," which was a recurring practice between the defendants.
Mount is represented by Paul Knipp as conflict counsel.
Edward Goins, 43, of Ashland, is also indicted in the alleged immorality on charges of first-degree child abuse, kidnapping and failing to report child abuse.
Goins is represented by Robert Miller.
After clarification that Goins and Mount faced no upgraded or superseding charges, all four defendants were scheduled to reappear on June 14.
As for the Fraziers, their multiple high-level felonies could send them to prison for decades, if convicted.
Judge Davis upgraded the Fraziers' bond following the superseding indictment to $1 million.
Goins and Mount are each held on a $200,000 bond.
As of this report, the Commonwealth has yet to offer any plea negotiations to the Fraziers.
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