Oconee Arrests Show Woman Charged with Child Cruelty, Man Charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct, Another Facing Grand Larceny

A Mountain Rest woman, arrested Wednesday, is accused in a warrant released by Oconee Sheriff’s Office of cruelty to a child. Annette Waldrep James, 55, of Mountain Rest, while in charge of a child at the Homestead Academy near Westminster, is accused of taping a child’s fingers together with masking tape. A Sheriff’s Deputy reportedly began an investigation into the allegations on January 20th. According to the current inmate roster from the Oconee County Detention Center, she appears to be out on bond.

Also on Wednesday, Oconee County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 36 year-old Eric Shane Watkins for Grand Larceny. A judge set his bond at $150,000 and he remains in custody at this time, detention center listings show.

On Thursday, according to jail records, Seneca Police arrested 22 year-old Jeremy Ethan Allen and charged him with first degree criminal sexual conduct. He remains in custody pending bond.