ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MIMother charged in case that began with YouTube video

(02/21/12) - A Sanilac County mother was charged Tuesday with child abuse and domestic violence in a case that began with a YouTube video.

It started when she was videotaped feeding her child. The way she fed the 2-year-old boy prompted those criminal charges.

A family member was behind the camera as the woman fed her son.

That relative didn't approve of her parenting style, and put the video on YouTube.

"We were notified first on Jan. 19," said Sanilac County Sheriff Garry Biniecki.

That's when the Sanilac County Sheriff's Department got wind of the video. It shows a woman in the Carsonville area, feeding her 2-year-old son. The boy's father is sitting to the right.

Her conduct in the video led to an investigation by the sheriff's department and now 21-year-old Jacqueline Caiger faces one count of fourth degree child abuse and one count of domestic violence.

"The child and the parent, there was actual physical contact, the force feeding of the child, so that also made the domestic violence come into play," Biniecki said.

Sanilac County Sheriff Garry Biniecki says the family has since moved to St. Clair County. The couple has two other young children.

"This child is still in the home and Child Protective Services is monitoring the situation," Biniecki said.

Caiger has been released on a personal recognizance bond. It's a criminal case that could have been difficult to prosecute, if not for the video.

"Cell phone photographs, video of crimes against children, are extremely important and critical to a successful prosecution," said Sanilac County Prosecutor James Young.