Tuba City Couple Indicted for Assault and Child Abuse

PHOENIX—A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 14-count indictment yesterday against Royce Paul Paddock, 35, of Tuba City, Ariz., for eight counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and six counts of Intentional or Knowing Child Abuse. His wife, Anna Laura Paddock, 36, also of Tuba City, was charged with six counts of Intentional or Knowing Child Abuse. Royce Paddock is currently in federal custody. The couple will be arraigned at a later date on the charges. 

The indictment alleges that the defendants, who were guardians of the 5-year-old victim, failed to get medical treatment for the victim after Royce Paddock physically assaulted her over the past year, resulting in serious bodily injury to the child. The victim had surgery to repair a broken leg and a fractured elbow and suffered two pelvic fractures as well as a rib fracture. Her hair had been pulled out by the roots, resulting in scarring. Her front teeth had been pulled out. She had been beaten so severely that upon her admission to the hospital she was severely anemic and required a blood transfusion. The tip of her nose was missing and infected. Her ear was traumatized by repeated trauma. Doctors indicated all of these injuries were serious, extremely painful, and untreated.   

A conviction for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years to life, a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for Intentional or Knowing Child Abuse carries a maximum penalty of 22 years in federal prison. In determining an actual sentence, the judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Dyanne C. Greer and Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: To be assigned
RELEASE NUMBER: 2010-005 (Paddock et al)