Ashlee Cheatham
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 19-year-old Stillwater woman accused of sexually abusing a 3-year-old girl, exploiting her, possessing child pornography, using a computer illegally, and having marijuana has been jailed on $75,000 bail pending a Sept. 11 court appearance at which she can seek a preliminary hearing.
The defendant, Ashlee Marie Cheatham, could be given two life prison terms plus 26 years if convicted of the five-count charge filed in Payne County District Court last week.
The victim’s father, who said he had “met Ashlee online and she moved from the Oklahoma City area,” was extremely upset when he went to the Stillwater Police Department lobby at 10:11 am on Aug. 22 to report what he had found on her phone, Stillwater Police Officer Chase Mobus alleged in an affidavit.
“He placed his head into his hands and sighed. He told me that he had his girlfriend move in with him a few weeks prior. He said that he couldn’t believe what he found on her phone. (He) told me that he had no idea that it was going on.
“He said that he found the pictures and videos on her Snapchat under a folder titled ‘for my eyes only.’ He stated that he guessed her password and found pictures of (the child) while she was sleeping. (He) opened Ashlee’s phone and showed me her Snapchat account and folder labeled ‘for my eyes only.’ (He) was in disbelief.
“Mixed among the pictures were pictures of what appeared to be adult female breasts which could be Ashlee’s. I had (him) close the phone and seized the phone as evidence. Lt. Millermon late told me that (the victim’s father) confirmed that he recognized Ashlee’s hand in one of the videos,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
The victim’s father “said that Ashlee was at home asleep due to not having a job. He said that (his daughter) was currently with her biological mother,” the affidavit alleged.
The defendant was arrested at her residence at 11:23 am on Aug. 22, court records show.
The officer “was later advised by a Detention Supervisor that a container filled with a green leafy-like substance was found in her purse,” which field-tested as marijuana, the affidavit alleged.
Asked if it belonged to her, “She said no. It was her boyfriend’s. She said that she put it in her bag the night before since she had a lot of things in her hands. I asked her what she had in her hands. She said her drink and her phone. She stated that she did not have a medical marijuana card,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
The victim’s father subsequently obtained an emergency protective order against the defendant on behalf of his daughter on Aug. 25, court records show.
