A mother and her boyfriend are in the Spartanburg County Detention Center on child abuse charges and a father is trying to understand how it could happen again.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office says after investigating a suspected child abuse case it was determined that Joshua Michael Moton had struck and/or shaken the two year old son of his girlfriend, Nicole Renee Dicosola.
Deputies say the boy’s mother was at work when the incident happened and Moton was the care taker for the victim and his four year old brother. The report states Dicosola came home to find the child had been injured.
The neurologist in the case said the two year old had to have surgery to remove part of his skull to release the pressure on his brain due to the swelling and bleeding. There is evidence of severe brain damage from the injury and the injuries are extremely life threatening.
Dicosola and her children live in Gaffney but have been staying with Moton in his Chesnee home.
Joshua Michael Moton has been charged with one count of child abuse for the life threatening injury he caused to a child in his care. His bond has been set at $30,000.
Nicole Renee Dicosola is charged with one count child neglect. Officials say the charges stem from her leaving Jace with Moton when she wasn’t supposed to.. Her bond is set at $10,000.
Meanwhile, Jace’s father, Rusty Knox, wants answers.
“It hurt, really bad,” Knox explains. “It still hurts because, I mean, we’re still in the woods right now. We don’t know what’s going to happen with him [Jace].
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office tells 7 On Your Side they learned of previous accusations involving Moton and the young boys from the Department of Social Services.
“All that we know is there have been accusations of physical abuse by Mr. Moton to the children,” Lt. Tony Ivey says. “To the extent of it, we don’t know because it took place in another county.”
Knox says he contacted DSS after that incident.
“I know in November of last year he got hit in the head, in a head injury, and he had surgery in March,” Knox adds.
Because of privacy laws, DSS wouldn’t comment on those previous allegations, or the case.
The sheriff’s office says it’s not likely Dicolosa will see either of her children again anytime soon.
“That’s going to have to be determined by the family court,” Ivey says. “They're going to have to look at the totality of all the circumstances involving this case and, of course, the severity of this open case already with the Department of Social Services."
Knox is just trying to keep a brave face for Jace and his other four-year-old son.
“He went in the room yesterday and saw him and it’s just all he’s been talking about,” says Knox.
DSS released a statement Friday evening. It reads:
"We are deeply saddened by the news of this child’s serious injuries. Through our partnership with law enforcement, the other child is currently safe. The department is still gathering information concerning this case."Dicosola had full custody of both boys at the time of the incident, but that is no longer the case.
Authorities say the four-year-old brother was placed with her mother.
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