Authorities say that a retired police officer who was shot by his wife last Wednesday faces more than a dozen criminal accusations alleging that he sexually abused children in his wife’s daycare center.
Shanteari Weems, her husband, shot her husband in the head at a Washington, D.C., hotel as they argued over allegations that he had sexually assaulted children she was caring for, police stated.
James Weems Jr. (57), was charged Tuesday “sexually abusing at least three children while working at a day care facility,”Baltimore County Police stated Tuesday.
Police said that he is currently being treated in Washington, D.C., for his gunshot wound, and is awaiting extradition from Maryland.
Weems is now facing charges of assault, sexual abuse and displaying obscene materials to minors.
Shanteari Weems was arrested Thursday after a standoff with police at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, authorities said. According to an officer who was at the door of her hotel room, she admitted shooting her husband. “F**k him, he’s a child molester,”According to authorities.
According to police, she was charged with assault with the intent to kill and assault using a dangerous weapon. Her preliminary hearing is set for Friday.
Her lawyer Joseph Fay told the Baltimore Sun Tuesday that he and his co-counsel, Tony Garcia, are “looking forward to providing Ms. Weems with a vigorous defense.”
Garcia stated that Garcia wants the court consider this has “never harmed a person in her life,”And has “dedicated herself to other people’s children so that they can make a living.”
Garcia said Garcia and Garcia had met up at the hotel to discuss child abuse allegations. The situation escalated into an argument and the woman fired her gun after her husband stood up and started to “go towards”She said so, the attorney.
“I think that this woman here was torn apart by guilt — that this was her very own husband — and by fear, when he attacked her,” Garcia said. “She’s just in this swamp of fear and guilt at this moment. It was very clear that she did not want him to molest another child. Not on her watch.”
According to authorities, her husband was fired from the Baltimore Police Department in 2005.
Baltimore County Police reported that detectives started investigating James Weems “earlier this month”After receiving reports of allegations of sexual abuse. Authorities stated that the Lil Kidz Kastle had been closed while they investigate.