Machelle Hackney, 48, the adoptive mother of seven children who appear on the YouTube channel “The Fantastic Adventures,” has been arrested and charged in a child abuse case, according to CNN and police documents. The channel has drawn more than 250 million views.
CNN reported that a welfare check last week led police to the family home. According to a statement of probable cause obtained by CNN, the children told officers they were punished when they could not remember lines or did not want to take part in videos. The children alleged that food and water were withheld, and that they were pepper sprayed, made to take ice baths and locked in a closet. They also told police they were pulled out of school to focus on filming.
Police arrested Hackney on Friday. According to reports, she faces two counts of molestation of a child, seven counts of child abuse, five counts of child neglect and five counts of unlawful imprisonment. Two of her adult sons were also arrested and are charged with failing to report abuse of a minor. The three were being held without bond.
In the police report, Hackney denied using a closet for punishment and denied the pepper spray and ice bath accusations. She said the only discipline she used was spankings, grounding and making the children stand in a corner.
These are allegations, and the charges have not been proven in court.
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