Kenneth Thomas, Child Abuse, Mississippi 2023

A 25-year-old Henryetta resident will spend the next two years behind bars after being convicted of child abuse in Indian Country.

Zion Alexander Canard was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country.

The child abuse charges stem from an incident on September 12, 2022, in Hughes County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The evidence presented in court showed that Canard abused an infant left in his care, resulting in a brain hemorrhage, lacerations, and bruising.

Canard was found guilty of child abuse following a federal bench trial on August 14, 2023. The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Tulsa Police Department, the Glenpool Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.

Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States in the case.

Canard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse in Indian Country and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

The Eastern District of Oklahoma is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in our communities.