Grammy nominated gospel singer James Fortune was arrested Friday, October 24 for aggravated assault of a family member and released on $20,000 bond, according to staffers at the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office, reports MyFoxHouston.com.
The name of the family member involved has not been released.
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Unfortunately, this is not Fortune’s first brush with the law. As previously reported by Praise DC, the popular singer was also sued for child abuse in 2012.
Read more from Praise DC:
According to lawsuit documents, in 2001 James Fortune burned his 4-year-old step son, leaving the boy disfigured with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on nearly half of his body. His wife Cheryl was also named in the lawsuit.
According to the civil lawsuit, James picked up his step son from pre-school and the teacher told James the boy had been acting up in class. Fortune then scolded the boy the entire ride home and continued to yell and be-raid the boy when they got home. He then prepared a scolding hot bath for the boy. The lawsuit also says James Fortune told the boy to take off his clothes and preceded to whip the boy before pushing the toddler in the scolding hot bath, holding him underwater causing 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
In 2003 James Fortune plead guilty to felony injury to a child and received 6 years deferred adjudication.
The toddler’s biological father is responsible for the lawsuit and is suing for $5 Million in order to take care of the boy’s continued plastic surgery.
Fortune, a two-time Grammy Nominee, three-time Stellar Award winner and six-time ASCAP award winning songwriter, released the following statement:
Speaking to the recent charges James Fortune on the record stating: I am truly sorry for the negative attention this situation has brought my wife, family, friends and business partners. Because it is a pending legal matter, I cannot comment on what has been reported. However, I understand the seriousness of this matter and ask that you respect the privacy of my family as we address this together. I would also like to thank my fans for their continued outpouring of love and support.
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James Fortune: Grammy Nominated Gospel Singer Arrested For Aggravated Assault was originally published on newsone.com
