Crime
Barstow Woman Arrested for Child Abuse and Attempted Murder of 3-Year-Old Stepdaughter
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at approximately 10:53 a.m., the Barstow Police Department dispatch center received a report from Barstow Community Hospital regarding an unresponsive 3-year-old girl who had been brought in by her stepmother.
Hospital staff determined that the child was not breathing and had sustained severe injuries covering her entire body, including her head and face.
Medical personnel at Barstow Community Hospital successfully resuscitated the child and, due to the severity of her injuries, transferred her to Loma Linda University Medical Center for further treatment.
Upon arrival, hospital staff discovered that the child had suffered multiple strokes due to a significant brain bleed, which necessitated the removal of a portion of her skull.
A team of forensic pediatricians at Loma Linda assessed the child and concluded that she had both recent and older injuries consistent with long-term child abuse.
The Barstow Police Department’s Detective Division took over the investigation, with Detective Gemma Day leading the case.
The extensive investigation involved interviews with multiple witnesses, execution of search warrants, and consultations with forensic pediatricians from Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Children’s Assessment Center, as well as coordination with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
Through the investigation, Detective Day determined that the child’s stepmother, identified as 32-year-old Enid Rodriguez Avila, was the sole individual responsible for the abuse. Based on the evidence gathered, an arrest warrant was issued for Avila.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Barstow Police Detectives located and arrested Avila in Victorville. She was subsequently booked into the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, facing the following charges:
- PC 273a(b) – Child Abuse Causing Paralysis
- PC 206 – Child Torture
- PC 664/187(a) – Attempted Murder
Authorities urge anyone with information related to this case to contact Detective Gemma Day at 760-255-5132 or via email at gday@barstowca.org.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27468) or by visiting www.wetip.com.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.