On Monday, July 3rd, deputies were called to Main Street in Pope, Mississippi where they found several children who had been severely assaulted.

After investigating, Panola County deputies identified 22-year-old Dalton Melton as the perpetrator of the crime.

Deputies learned that Melton fled the scene and was in a vehicle, trying to leave the area. They found him and did a traffic stop.

Melton was arrested and charged with two counts of Felony Child Abuse and one count of Domestic Violence-Aggravated Assault.

He is in the Panola County Detention Center pending court process.