GARY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A McDowell County man is facing allegations of abuse following a domestic incident that led to a child protective services investigation and forensic interviews with multiple children.
According to a report from law enforcement, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call around 9:18 p.m. on February 17, 2026, in the Gary area of McDowell County, West Virginia.
A corporal and Trooper R.L. Morgan were dispatched to the residence after a call was received through the McDowell County 911 Center. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Miranda D. Deerman, who told them she did not know what had happened and claimed that nothing physical had occurred.
Officers also spoke with a juvenile at the scene, who initially told authorities that nothing had happened.
Following the call, officers contacted the on-call Child Protective Services (CPS) worker to report the situation.
Shortly after leaving the residence, the responding corporal received video footage from a neighbor. According to the report, the video showed the mother stating that Jimmy Deerman had struck her son during the incident.
The following day, February 18, the juvenile reported the incident to school officials and stated that he had been abused by his stepfather. As a result, Child Protective Services conducted an interview with the juvenile at Mount View High School, where a seven-day protection plan was put in place for the children.
Authorities then arranged forensic interviews for three children at the “Stop the Hurt” Child Advocacy Center in Welch.
The interviews took place on February 24 at approximately 10:30 a.m. During the forensic interview, the juvenile reported that the altercation began after he took ice cream from the refrigerator despite being told not to.
According to the statement, the defendant allegedly began yelling at the child and struck him during the confrontation. When the child’s mother attempted to intervene, the defendant allegedly assaulted and choked her.
The juvenile told investigators that he threw the ice cream at the defendant and ran upstairs. The defendant allegedly chased him upstairs and began choking him, according to the interview.
A second juvenile reportedly entered the room during the incident and attempted to intervene. The defendant allegedly twisted the child’s arm behind her back and threatened her, warning that she would “get it too” if she continued.
Authorities say the alleged events occurred in the Gary area of McDowell County.
The investigation involved cooperation between law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the Stop the Hurt Child Advocacy Center.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
