September 30, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
An Elk City woman faces jail time after receiving a felony charge of child neglect in Beckham County District Court.
According to a probable cause affidavit, 32-year-old Devene Rae Laughlin was arrested and charged for the crime after an investigation revealed that the defendant, while supervising her four children under the age of 18, was allegedly intoxicated and in the nude in front of the minors. The report stated that at one point she gave a bath to her 6-year-old son while allegedly being drunk.
During an interview with the children, they told police that Laughlin was also combative multiple times throughout the evening. One child stated that the defendant pulled his hair twice, and kicked him in the ribs. Another child claims that Laughlin hit him multiple times with a closed fist on his arm.
While talking with police, Laughlin admitted to purchasing two half pints of vodka the day before the incident. She claimed that during the night in question she had blacked out. She did claim, however, remembering giving her son a bath, and getting him dressed for bed.
Laughlin was formally charged on September 22. Her first court appearance is scheduled for November 23.
