Phil Campbell man indicted for abuse

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason, FCT staff writer
A Phil Campbell man is behind bars today after the Franklin County grand jury indicted him on sexual and child abuse charges.
Franklin County Sheriff's Deputies took Steven Pilkerton, 24, 365 McClung Street, Phil Campbell, into custody Friday night.
Pilkerton allegedly fondled his three-year-old daughter. The child told her daycare teacher about the abuse, and the teacher alerted the police, Merrell Potter, Phil Campbell Police Chief, said.
"We entered into an investigation that DHR had going for child abuse," Potter said.
Pilkerton's four children were removed from the home during the investigation, and they remain in the custody of the Department of Human Resources, Potter said.
The child abuse charges stem from Pilkerton allegedly using excessive punishment to correct his children, Potter said.
"He spanked the older children too hard, and left marks on them," Potter said.
Pilkerton is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $50,000 bond.