S., M. & J. Lively - Aggravated Assault of 2 boys - TBD
Four family members charged in alleged torture of Lubbock boys (11/07/06 - LUBBOCK, TX) - Three people have been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly abusing two boys who were burned with a battery charger and forced to eat habanero peppers, Lubbock officials said. The Lubbock County District Attorney's Office on Monday filed charges against the boys' father, Steve A. Lively, 40, and stepmother, Melissa D. Lively, 37. Each parent faces four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police say they beat and starved the boys. The boys' stepbrother, Jason C. Lively, 19, has also been charged with aggravated assault for alleged abuse including pinching one of the boys with pliers and shooting him with a BB gun. "The conditions were not life threatening, but they would have been over time," Lubbock Police investigator Derek Danner said. Authorities discovered the abuse two months ago when an officer responded to reports of a 16-year-old begging for food at a convenience store, according to police reports. The boy had injuries including facial bruises and cuts on his arm. Police said the boy told officers he had been injured in a fight. When officers took the boy home, the boy's siblings told police that the boy and his brother stole food regularly from the family's refrigerator. They said the boys were burned with a battery charger when they were questioned about the missing food, according to police reports. In subsequent interviews, the boys told investigators that they had lived in a closet for three months and that their father beat them and fed them peppers as a form of punishment. They said their food was limited to a package of Ramen noodles a day. The age of the second victim was not available. Kyle B. Sexton, 20, a family friend, has also been charged in connection with the abuse, police said. Police said the boys had not been to school for more than a year. A spokesman for Child Protective Services said the boys were removed from the home but wouldn't comment on when or other details. A phone call placed to the Lively home Monday was not returned. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=state&id=4735667