Four women wanted for their involvement in a Godwin-based organization that lawmen said forced children to work for little or no money turned themselves in to authorities Thursday night, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said.
First-appearance hearings were held this afternoon for Irish Williams, Kassia Rogers, Shirmitka McNatt and her mother, Shirley McNatt. Each faces charges involving child abuse, operating a continuing criminal enterprise, involuntary servitude involving a child, conspiracy and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Bail was set for the women at the time of their arrest, said Lt. Sean Swain, but all were raised at their court appearances at the Cumberland County Detention Center.
Bail now stands at $325,000 for Rogers and Williams, Swain said. Shirley McNatt's bail is set at $350,000 and Shirmitka McNatt's at $70,000.
The four women lived on the McCollum Ranch, a compound in Godwin and are followers of John C. McCollum, 67, who claimed to be the chief apostle of a religious organization he was operating as early as the 1980s. McCollum was arrested in December on similar charges. He is in the Cumberland County Detention Center with bail set at $1.1 million.
Staff writer Nancy McCleary can be reached at nmccleary@fayobserver.com or 486-3568.