A Cherokee man has been charged with abusing, assaulting and maiming his sister-in-law.
Herbert Hughes allegedly abused Sherri Erb, who has diminished mental capacity and is small of frame, by pulling her hair out by the roots, kicking her while she was on the ground and forcing her to go out in the extremely cold weather for long periods of time to check on the dogs and gather wood.
Court records show on March 3 at 4:30 p.m. Alfalfa County Deputy Ryan Madden was notified by dispatch they had received a report from St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center of the physical abuse of Sherri Lynn Erb, age 62. Melissa Walker reported Erb was brought to the emergency room by her sister Beth Weymouth with suspicious injuries and bruises that were consistent with physical abuse. Walker stated Erb told them while staying at her sister’s house in Yewed, Hughes had pulled her hair out and kicked her while she was on the ground.
Deputy Diego Gutierrez conducted the preliminary interview at St. Mary’s with Walker, Weymouth and Erb. He took a written statement from Weymouth and verbal statements from the Walker and Erb. According to Gutierrez, Erb was unable to provide a written statement due to the trauma sustained to her hands. Gutierrez was able to obtain photos of the trauma Erb sustained.
In his report, Gutierrez state Erb had a cut on her nose, large areas of hair missing on her scalp, deep cuts, scrapes and bruises on her hands and arms, bruises over her whole back, bruises on her legs and buttocks. He also observed her left pinky toe appeared to be partially rotted away, which was attributed to frostbite.
On March 4, Deputy Madden spoke with Weymouth who told him sometime around Jan. 31 she had contracted the Covid-19 virus and thought it would be best for Erb to stay at their “baby” sister’s house (Amber Hughes) for at least a couple of weeks while she was quarantined. Weymouth said Erb stayed at the Hughes’ home until March 3.
According to Weymouth, Herbie Hughes brought Erb back to the house in Enid on March 3 and she immediately noticed a “small sore” on Erb’s nose. Weymouth stated she asked Hughes what happened, and he told her Erb had fallen and broken her glasses. Weymouth said that later Erb told her Hughes was kicking her and pulling her hair out. Weymouth then took Erb to St. Mary’s ER. She said Erb has diminished mental capacity and has been living with her for the last 15 years.
Herbert Hughes, 60, of Cherokee, has been charged with three felony counts: (1) abuse or neglect of vulnerable adult, (2) aggravated assault and battery and (3) maiming.
The abuse or neglect charge is punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years and a fine not more than $10,000. The assault charge is punishable by up to five years in the penitentiary or up to one year in county jail or by up to $500 fine, or both. The maiming charge is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to life, or both.
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