Lake Charles –
On February 12 at approximately 3:30 p.m. the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint at a residence in Westlake in reference to a possible cruelty to a juvenile.
Once on scene, deputies spoke with the 12 year old victim who stated her mother’s boyfriend, Taylor C. Ashworth, 23, Westlake, whipped her with a belt numerous times that morning. They observed the girl to have numerous red marks on her arms and legs. When interviewed by detectives, Ashworth confirmed he whipped the girl with a belt due to her not wanting to go to school.
Ashworth was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with cruelty to a juvenile. He was released the next day on a $2,500 bond set by Judge Clayton Davis.
CPSO Deputy Barrett Savoie is the arresting deputy and CPSO Detective Monte Gentry is the lead investigator on this case.