In a complaint filed in Calhoun Magistrate Court by Calhoun Sheriff Deputy H.M. Stephens on December 22nd, 2026, she reported that in August 2025, she took over an investigation involving allegations of child abuse occurring in August of 2024 by James Washington and Jolanda Taylor.
On August 16th, 2024 Calhoun Protective Services removed seven children from 3260 East Kanawha Highway due to evidence of physical abuse. As part of that CPS investigation, the four older children were forensically interviewed by a child advocacy center. During their separate interviews, all four children disclosed that their stepfather James Washington had hit them with spoons and belts on multiple occasions, which left marks and caused pain the next day. The oldest child disclosed that he had seen James hit his then nine year old sister in the face with a bent-back toothbrush, causing a bloody lip. The same child also disclosed that James took his then six year old sister into the bathroom, put soap on her body, and whipped her with a belt in the shower. The six year old disclosed that James and his wife told them to keep what happens at home a secret. When the interviewer asked what she thought would happen to her if James and her mother Jolanda Taylor found out that she told someone, the six year old responded “they would probably try to find us” and “I think I would get hurt.” The four children displayed several distinctively-shaped scars and bruises on their bodies, including on faces, legs, arms, and torsos. Within two weeks of the children being removed from the home, both parents vacated their apartment, reportedly left the state, and did not provide their physical whereabouts.
Since Deputy Stephens had taken over the investigation, James Washington has called the sheriff’s office on two separate occasions to ask if he has warrants for child abuse.
Two of the children also made statements in later CPS proceedings, which remained consistent with the disclosures made in their interviews.
During their statements and interviews, the children indicated that Jahlonda Taylor had watched the children be abused, knew it was happening, and “didn’t do anything about it.” Two of the children indicated that Jahlonda had participated in hitting them on occasion.
These crimes occurred within the geographical boundaries of Calhoun County, with additional offenses reportedly occurring in other states.
