HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Two adults are behind bars after deputies say they assaulted a 12-year-old boy inside a Flowery Branch home.
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Hall County deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home in the 6200 block of South Hall Drive.
When they arrived, they spoke with witnesses, the victim and one of the adults involved, Miranda Sue Stone, 40.
The second adult, John Richard Atha, 44, of Gainesville, was not at the home when deputies first responded.
According to investigators, Atha assaulted the boy on multiple occasions. Deputies say he held the child by the neck, threw him against a wall and choked him during an incident that occurred between approximately 11 p.m. Monday and 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Investigators also allege Atha repeatedly hit the boy on the back with a belt, leaving welts and redness.
The sheriff’s office said a separate incident occurred on Aug. 8, when Atha allegedly threw the child against a wall while holding him by the neck.
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Deputies also determined Stone, who is a relative of the victim and lives at the home, put her hand around the boy’s neck, pushed him against a wall and squeezed his neck. Investigators say she also tried to grab and hit the child repeatedly during the late-night incident.
Stone was arrested at the scene and charged with felony aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, first-degree cruelty to children and misdemeanor simple assault under the Family Violence Act.
Atha was arrested around 4 a.m. Tuesday after returning to the home. He faces two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children and one count of misdemeanor battery.
Both suspects were booked into the Hall County Jail, where they are being held without bond.
The 12-year-old victim was placed in the care of another family member.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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