News

Dec 02, 2023

Owner of house where boy was locked in kennel sent to prison

Shelley Barnes DAVIDSON COUNTY – One of the three people who were arrested in

Shelley Barnes

DAVIDSON COUNTY – One of the three people who were arrested in October after a 9-year-old boy was found locked in an outdoor dog kennel has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to between 7 to 11 years in prison.

On Wednesday, Shelley Barnes agreed in Davidson County Superior Court to plead guilty two counts of felony child abuse and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

She received the maximum prison sentence of 22 to 36 months for each charge, which will be served consecutively, meaning they are back-to-back sentences totaling 88 to 144 months.

Due to the plea agreement, some of the charges Barnes previously faced were dropped.

At the time of her arrest, Barnes was charged with two counts of felony negligent child abuse inflicting serious mental/emotional injury, two counts of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of misdemeanor child abuse, felony false imprisonment and felony maintaining a dwelling for the sale/distribution of a controlled substance.

Barnes was previously convicted of identity theft in 2004.

On Oct. 19, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip that there was a child locked in an outdoor dog kennel at Barnes' house on Cress Road in Lexington.

When officers arrived, they found a 9-year-old boy locked in an outdoor dog kennel with a padlock wearing only a T-shirt, blue jeans and no shoes. At the time, the temperature was 28 degrees and there was visible frost on the ground.

While being assessed by Davidson County EMS, the boy said that he had been "living outside since April" and that "he did not have a room in the house because he lived outdoors."

Sheriff's deputies forced their way into the house and encountered the boy's stepmother, Sarah Starr, who said she did not know the combination to the lock on the kennel, only her aunt (Barnes) knew it, according to the search warrant.

During a search of the residence, officers took custody of an 8-month-old boy and a 4-year-old boy. They also determined an 8-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl also lived at the house but were at school at the time.

All five children were taken into protective custody by the Department of Social Services.

During a search of the property, officers discovered a marijuana plant in the bedroom and over 12 pounds of a "leafy green substance" in containers at different places on the property.

Other property that was seized included three surveillance cameras, two field cameras and a semi-automatic pistol with ammunition rounds.

Sarah Starr was charged with seven counts of felony negligent child abuse inflicting serious mental/emotional injury, three counts of felony child abuse inflicting serious injury and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse.

The boy's father, Jonathan Starr, was charged with three counts of felony negligent child abuse inflicting serious mental/emotional injury, felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury, misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment.

The Starrs are awaiting trial in Davidson County Superior Court.

Shelley Barnes