Alva Review-Courier -

A Goltry man is facing multiple sex charges involving a juvenile. His common law wife has also been charged with a felony. Michael Edward James, 48, is charged with rape, first degree (victim under age 14); two counts of rape by instrumentation; and three counts of lewd molestation. All six charges are felonies. First degree rape carries a penalty of not less than five years. Rape by instrumentation is punishable by imprisonment for not less than five years to life without parole. The penalty for each lewd molestation offense is imprisonment for up to three to 20 years.

Heather Jean Sharp, 36, has been charged with felony child neglect. This crime is punishable in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding life imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both such fine and imprisonment. The charge against Sharp was filed in Alfalfa County on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Charges against James were filed on Friday, Nov. 17.

According to court records, a Timberlake School counselor first reported allegations regarding sex abuse to Alfalfa County Sheriff Rick Wallace and a Department of Human Services child welfare worker. At their request, District Attorney’s Investigator Steve Tanio joined the investigation.

A post-Miranda interview was conducted with Heather Sharp on Nov. 13. During the interview she said on Nov. 11 her daughter told her the son was attempting to have sex with another daughter. She said she went into the bedroom, observed what was happening and told the boy to stop, then went back into the living room.

She admitted in the interview that her son had previous incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior. When they had lived in Seminole, there was an incident of the boy showing pictures of his private parts to other students. The school dealt with the problem. She said in 2015 at Timberlake, the boy was caught showing similar photos to classmates. In neither instance was this reported to law enforcement or DHS.

Tanio interviewed all three children, and the two girls confirmed the reports. Sheriff Wallace was given access to the juvenile boy’s school-issued iPad. He and Tanio viewed the camera application and observed numerous sexually explicit images of adult individuals, first accessed and saved on Sept. 4, 2013, through 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 13. Judge Loren Angle issued a court order on Nov. 13 to take the minor children into emergency custody. According to court information, after Sharp was arrested and the children were taken into DHS custody, the boy was placed in a foster home. The two girls were placed with James, who had been living with their mother for seven years.

On Nov. 13 Tanio conducted a preliminary background check of James, determining his driver’s license was suspended. He had a criminal history for a previous arrest and conviction in 1990 where he was found guilty for possession, use, transfer of narcotics or drugs and guilty of assault while a member of the US Navy. He also previously pled no contest in Garfield County for injury to a minor child.

During a videotaped post-Miranda interview, James stated he had used LSD since high school and continued to use this while in the Navy from 1988 to 1991. He stated both he and Sharp were unemployed. He admitted he was in a relationship with Sharp and was considered the children’s father, even though he was not married to Sharp. On Nov. 15 the school counselor reported the girls had been absent from school on Nov. 14. She telephoned James who said both girls were sick and throwing up. On Nov. 15 the girls were in school. The counselor said she spoke with the older girl who said they had not been sick. The girl said James lied about this. She also disclosed that James had sexually abused her on multiple occasions.

On Nov. 15 Sheriff Wallace and the counselor took both girls to Woodward for a sexual abuse examination by a doctor. The doctor said her examination indicated sexual abuse.

Tanio conducted a videotaped interview with the juvenile who said she had been molested for the past five years. Tanio also interviewed Sharp who recounted some incidents. She told Tanio she thought James might be having sex with her daughter; however she did not ask him to leave because he had nowhere to go, and he “does things for her.” According to online court records, bond for James has been set at $60,000 and he remains in jail. His next court appearance is Dec. 6. Sharp has been released on a $1,000 bond. Her next court date is Dec. 6.