Coweta couple arrested for sexual abusing their children and posting pics on the Internet

Friday, August 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

News On Six Crime Reporter Lori Fulbright reports that Coweta police have charged a couple there with sexually abusing their own children. They also ran an unauthorized daycare from their home.

The question now is whether there are additional molestation victims in their city.

Officers arrested John and Danielle Cheethum, he's charged with sexually abusing their three children, ages eight, three and one. She's charged with failing to protect them.

Police say they also confiscated the couple's home computer and found child pornorgraphy.

Sgt. Donnie Krumsiek of the Coweta Police says, "To date, we've collected over two thousand pieces of evidence from the computer and the residence."

The family's house is now empty and the children are in state custody, the parents, in jail.

Police ask parents who used the Cheethums as babysitters, to talk with their children.

Officers say no one knew what horror was going on inside a home in the 300 block of South Avenue F in Coweta, until the woman who lived there got angry at her husband and called police.

She told them he'd been sexually abusing their three children, an eight-year-old son, a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.

Krumsiek says, "This occurred in two states and four jurisdictions, Arkansas, Cherokee County, Wagoner County and Tulsa County.â€

Police records show Cheetum is a convicted sex offender out of Arkansas who never registered in Oklahoma.

Police say they are safe for the first time in five years and getting the help they so desperately need. The FBI will likely take over the child pornography part of this case.

Coweta Police say Danielle Cheethum was either running an unauthorized daycare from her home or babysitting other children. So, they'd like to know if there are other victims out there, because some of the children found on the computer, have not yet been identified.

Coweta Policeâ€™s phone number is 486-2121.