NEWS

Ex-social worker admits to fake abuse calls

Deborah Yetter
Louisville Courier Journal

A former Hardin County social worker has admitted to making false reports of child abuse last year against her neighbors at an Elizabethtown apartment complex where they lived.

The courts and justice. (Hemera Technologies/Getty)

The case attracted widespread attention after the Courier-Journal reported that a young couple who lived in an upstairs apartment with their infant daughter said the bizarre allegations had disrupted their lives and sent police and social workers to their door repeatedly to investigate false, anonymous complaints that they were drunk, disorderly, abusing drugs and mistreating their baby.

The complaints ended after Beth Bond and Joseph Applegate Jr., Bond's then-fiance, were charged with making false reports of child abuse and neglect against their neighbors to the state agency that employed Bond as a social worker. Bond, 38, quit her job with the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services on June 1 after she was charged.

Last week, both Bond and Applegate pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with the case, which brought some relief to their former neighbors, April Rodgers and Corey Chaney, the targets of the false allegations.

"We're just focused on raising our daughter and being a family," Rodgers said.

However, Bond still faces charges in Grayson County in a separate case where she is accused of making false reports of child abuse against two people, the husband of her former best friend and the pastor of a Baptist church she attended.

On May 13, Bond pleaded guilty in Hardin District Court to six counts of complicity to falsely report an incident, according to court records. She received a 12-month suspended sentence and was ordered to serve two years probation and provide 100 hours of community service.

Applegate, 43, who shared an apartment with Bond on Pine Valley Drive, pleaded guilty to one count of complicity to falsely report an incident. He received a 12-month suspended sentence and two years probation.

Both were ordered to have no contact with the victims.

Adam Cart, Bond's lawyer, said his client wanted to get the case in Hardin County resolved.

"I think we reached a reasonable resolution," he said. "My client is happy to put this behind her and move on."

Evan Spalding, Applegate's lawyer, said he also was ready to get the case settled.

"He's certainly looking forward to moving on with his life," he said.

Bond remains charged in a separate case in Grayson County with four counts of official misconduct and four counts of falsely reporting an incident. She has pleaded not guilty.

Grayson County Attorney Clay Ratley said a hearing is scheduled next week to get a trial date in the case.

An arrest complaint in the case said that Bond made false reports of child abuse against Jerry Beauchamp, who is married to her former friend, Shawna Beachchamp, as well as Roger Allen, the pastor of Falls of the Rough Baptist Church, which Bond attended. Bond had worked as a social worker in the area before moving to Elizabethtown last year.

Shawna Beauchamp said her family hopes to get the case resolved soon.

"It turned our lives upside-down," she said. "I'll be glad when it's all over. I hope she goes to jail."

Contact reporter Deborah Yetter at 502-582-4228 or at dyetter@courier-journal.com.