14-Year Old Girl's Husband Jailed For Aggravated Sexual Assault

RICHMOND, TX — A 47-year old Fort Bend County man is behind bars after authorities learned he was married to a 14-year old girl, and that the child’s mother allowed the marriage.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Steven Carty, the child’s alleged husband, and Cherry Jamila Payton, 39, the child’s mother.

Investigators learned of the alleged marriage when the child told a doctor that she was sexually active and had been married since she was 13-years old, KTRK reported. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Carty was arrested on Monday and charged with felony aggravated sexual assault of a child.

He is in the Fort Bend County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Payton was arrested Wednesday and charged with child endangerment.

Her bond is set at $10,000.

Texas law allows for people under the age of 16 to get married with a court order and those between 16 and 18 years old can get married with parental consent.

Image: Shutterstock

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