News
Teen testifies about abuse by her father
15-year-old’s testimony takes most of first day of trial
A 15-year-old girl testified most of the day Wednesday, detailing allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Kenneth Dale Jenkins.
Jenkins, 36, remains in the Navarro County Justice Center jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.
The girl detailed explicit incidents beginning at age 10 and continuing through the end of 2005, the year she turned 13 years old.
“Did you ever ask him why he was doing this?” asked Vickie Foster, assistant district attorney.
“I asked him a lot,” the girl answered. “He would just say he couldn’t explain it.”
She claimed one incident — allegedly occurring sometime around Halloween 2005 — Jenkins told her he had always wanted to have sex in costume. As the evening progressed, she said her father put on a Darth Vader costume for a short time before he began having intercourse with her.
The indictment against Jenkins — which Foster read aloud in the courtroom at the start of Wednesday’s proceedings — listed nine separate counts of sexual abuse occurring specifically in 2005, the last year of alleged incidents.
Court-appointed defense attorney Rob Dunn questioned the young girl about the specific dates, in what appeared to be an attempt to create doubt about the girl’s ability to accurately recount facts in the matter.
He also tried to raise doubt about one of the counts, alleged to have occurred in March 2005, as to whether or not it even occurred in Navarro County, which would be under the jurisdiction of the district court here.
The girl responded that it would be hard to be sure since she couldn’t see out of her father’s truck. She had earlier testified that she had been required to perform oral sex for her father while they were traveling down the road.
Foster responded by introducing documentation of two protective orders against Jenkins prohibiting him from contact with his daughter, orders connected with a pattern of behavior he exhibited one Child Protective Services worker, Debbie Butler, described as “obsessive” during her time on the witness stand.
Butler also testified that when the young girl came forward in 2006 about the sexual abuse, the then 14-year-old described the relationship between her and Jenkins as her being treated “more as a girlfriend than as a daughter.”
Dr. Agboolah Fatirgun, a new local pediatrician, testified as an expert witness for the prosecution. Educated at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University, among other locations, he holds licenses to practice medicine in three states, including Texas.
Dr. Fatirgun testified about the technical names of different portions of the female anatomy, as well as the definitions of “penetration” and “virgin” during his testimony.
However, under cross examination by Dunn, the doctor specified his testimony was only about general information and not about specifics of the case, saying he had never examined, or even met, the victim.
Butler’s testimony concluded Wednesday’s proceedings. Jenkins’ trial was expected to resume at 9 a.m. this morning.
—————
Loyd Cook may be contacted via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com
- News
-
-
Business Notes
Firestone Building Products
Firestone Building Products presented a trust fund check -
It's all good
A phone call, a small gesture. Russell Anderson had broke the news to his friends in August he had cancer, and a pal had something for him.
-
History buffs rejoice!
A year-long labor of love by local historian Dr. Tommy Stringer has yielded a new book, “Images of America — Corsicana” which will be released Feb. 8.
-
Uniting hearts in Navarro County
The month of February is symbolized by the heart and what better Valentine to our community than for each us to give from our hearts. United Way of Navarro County is announcing a new 2010 special initiative to “Unite Hearts in Navarro County” with a challenge to its citizens.
-
Monday deadline to register to vote
Monday is the final day to register to vote in the March 2 primary for Texas governor.
Voter registration cards may be turned in at the voting office in the basement of the Navarro County courthouse. -
Chamber’s 92nd Annual Banquet Thursday
The Chamber’s 92nd Annual Banquet is this Thursday and you really do not want to miss this year’s banquet.
-
The lonely county of Loving
Texas is rapidly becoming urbanized, claiming three of the ten largest cities in the United States — Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
-
Arts Council presents photo exhibit
The Navarro Council of the Arts is pleased to present their newest exhibit at the Warehouse Gallery, Edie Richards. The Warehouse Gallery is located at 119 West Sixth Avenue, in the downtown Arts District.
-
Navarro to host ‘College Days’
Navarro College will host “College Day 2010” from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 4 in Gibson Hall on the Corsicana campus.
-
Council to consider shed rule changes
The Corsicana City Council will once again consider altering the shed ordinance when it meets in regular session Tuesday.
- More News Headlines
-
