Tri-Cities

Transgender woman facing child-abuse charges in court

Gabhart accused of ‘cruelly punishing’ her son
Enoch "Athena" Gabhart, 25, was arrested for allegedly physically abusing a 6-year-old child.

The defense attorney for a transgender woman accused of child abuse is waiting on interviews to determine how to proceed with the case.

Enoch Gabhart, 25, goes by the name Athena and is “in transition” to “become female,” according to court records.

Gabhart was arrested Jan. 17 and charged with a third-degree felony child abuse after her 6-year-old child reportedly told staff at his elementary school that he didn’t “want to live with dad anymore and wants to live with mom,” because his “dad has been angry with him.”

Farmington Police investigated at Gabhart’s home in the 5200 block of Villa View Drive and reportedly found “redness on the child's neck, arms, legs and an injury to the torso. The child disclosed that his father had thrown him against the wall multiple times,” Farmington Police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales disclosed at the time.

The child also reportedly had a “bloody nose,” and police found “blood on his mattress,” allegedly from Gabhart throwing him into a wall and hitting him.

The child was removed from the home and placed in the care of his grandfather, and Gabhart was released on her own recognizance.

Twelve witnesses have listed for trial, after the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office filed a witness list on April 2, court records state.

“After we interview everyone I think we can make a better decision on a trial or not,” Defense Attorney Benjamin Ward told Chief District Judge Curtis Gurley.

The judge set a status hearing in the case for 9 a.m. July 8 in the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec.