Court documents have revealed disturbing allegations of abuse suffered by three adopted children, allegedly at the hands of Matthew James, 38, and his wife, Brittney James, 35, in North Edwards, California.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Mojave/Boron Substation arrested the couple on October 14, 2025, after responding to a report of possible child abuse. Investigators identified three victims under the age of 14.
The juveniles were immediately placed under Child Protective Services (CPS) custody.
Abuse report initiated at local school
Deputies were called to West Boron Elementary School after a report that a child had been hit by his father. The child told officials that his adoptive father strangled him by his shirt collar and beat him with belts and wires. Deputies documented multiple visible injuries on the boy’s body.
The other two children, who attended Boron High School, were also interviewed. Reports confirm all three children were legally adopted by Matthew and Brittney James.
Child One: Duct tape restraints, beatings, and starvation
One child described enduring repeated physical punishment and extreme mistreatment. According to court documents, the couple allegedly:
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Covered his mouth with duct tape and forced him to run for four hours straight.
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Hit him with shovels, baseboards, and wooden planks.
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Made him lie on the ground while a 50-pound bag of concrete was dropped on him.
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Punched, kicked, and beat him with metal wires and belts.
On October 13, the boy said his arms, legs, and ankles were bound with duct tape, forcing him to sleep overnight in a fetal position. After being released, he was ordered to run in place for hours and was beaten with a belt. He said he was punched in the chest, stomach, and genitals, and when he cried, his mouth and head were covered with duct tape.
The child claimed the couple withheld food, water, and restroom access as punishment for the past three years. He was often forced to hold his urine for 24 hours, only to be punished for “lying” when he asked to use the restroom later.
He said he rarely ate or drank at home, surviving on food at school or extended family visits, and sometimes drank from a garden hose to stay hydrated.
Child Two: Beatings, strangulation, and sleep deprivation
The second child corroborated her sibling’s story, saying she witnessed the abuse firsthand. She said she was strangled by her shirt collar, beaten 15–20 times with a belt, and dragged by her ponytail across dirt.
She reported being bound with tape for hours and having her mouth taped shut on two occasions.
According to court documents, the couple forced her to stay outside overnight while they slept on a trampoline to ensure she did not lie down. The children were hit with pots and pans, and made to run barefoot in the heat.
She also claimed they were kept home from school when they had visible injuries.
Child Three: Forced labor and extreme deprivation
The third child described a similar pattern of abuse. He said he was forced to run barefoot until his feet developed sores, strangled, and punched.
He confirmed the siblings were denied food, water, and restroom use. On one occasion, he was so thirsty he drank from a dog bowl.
The report said he sometimes had to urinate in the kitchen sink and defecate in a hamper because he wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom. He described being slammed to the ground and strangled during violent outbursts.
He also said he feared his brother would die from the abuse and often snuck food and water to him. The documents revealed the child attempted suicide by strangulation after getting in trouble at school, fearing the punishment that awaited him at home.
Investigation and arrests
Deputies learned that Matthew James was employed by the Muroc Joint Unified School District. During questioning at a local high school, he appeared emotional and denied some of the allegations.
Brittney James denied any knowledge of the abuse, claiming one child was a habitual liar who stole food and money.
Investigators collected DNA samples and evidence from the couple’s home.
Both Matthew and Brittney James were arrested and charged. They pleaded not guilty on October 21 and are scheduled to return to court for a bail review on October 30.
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