Matthew James

Sources

1. North Edwards couple faces child abuse charges as bail review is postponed, Bakersfield Now, October 30, 2025.
2. Court documents detail alleged abuses to children by North Edwards couple , KGET, October 24, 2025.

• 1. North Edwards couple faces child abuse charges as bail review is postponed

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  • Bakersfield Now

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  BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Matthew and Brittney James, a couple from North Edwards, have been arrested and charged with several serious offenses, including felony child endangerment, assault on a child under eight likely to cause great bodily injury, torture, false imprisonment, and conspiracy.

  They pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 16.

  In a recent court appearance, Judge Cole McKnight granted a continuance for their bail review after Matthew's attorney, Kyle Humphrey, explained that the district attorney is currently involved in another trial.

  On October 30, Brittney and Matthew James attended their bail review at the Kern County Court in Mojave. The hearing was postponed to November 5. KBAK/KBFX
  On October 30, Brittney and Matthew James attended their bail review at the Kern County Court in Mojave. The hearing was postponed to November 5. KBAK/KBFX

  Humphrey also requested that the media be barred from the courtroom, arguing that the case had been sensationalized, but the judge denied this request.

  The couple's alleged victims are their three adopted children.

  RELATED: Court documents reveal abuse claims by 3 adoptive children against North Edwards couple

  One child described being strangled, bound with duct tape, forced to exercise excessively, and denied food and water.

  The siblings confirmed parts of the story and shared additional allegations of abuse.

  Matthew James had close ties to the community, working for the Muroc Joint Unified School District and serving as a bishop in the North Edwards Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Edwards, where defendants Brittney and Matthew James attended. KBAK / KBFX

  An anonymous source claimed that opinions within the congregation are divided, and that the couple often seemed to push their children aside in public settings.

  The bail review and pre-preliminary hearing are scheduled for Nov. 5.

  Brittney and Matthew James attended their bail review at the Kern County Court in Mojave.{ } KBAK/KBFX

  Crystal Simons, a North Edwards resident, said, "Everybody knows about it. Everybody in North Edwards, everybody around just knows about it. Doesn't matter who it is. They heard about it or they know about it."

• 2. Court documents detail alleged abuses to children by North Edwards couple

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  • KGET

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  BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Newly released court documents outline shocking accounts of child cruelty to adopted children in a small desert town in eastern Kern County.

  The court documents contain redacted investigative reports of horrific details laid out by the children, and denials by the parents.

  North Edwards is a small desert town, 80 miles east of Bakersfield, 20 miles north of Mojave. Both 35-year-old Brittney and 38-year-old Matthew James were charged last Friday.

  Each parent is charged with three counts of torture, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of false imprisonment, and three counts of child cruelty.

  The court documents say the youngest child — a 9-year-old boy — reported the abuse to his school. He told deputies both parents duct taped his mouth shut.

  The couple would hit him with shovels, boards, and made him lay on the ground while Matthew James allegedly dropped a 50-pound bag of concrete on him. The boy also described being hit with wires and belts and being punched and kicked.

  He detailed a disturbing story that took place Oct. 13. After sleeping bound in duct tape all night, his parents woke him, and made him run in place in the living room. The child says Matthew removed his belt and hit him on his back multiple times, and Brittney punched him in his “private part.” The couple covered his mouth in duct tape because he was crying.

  Investigators examined the boy and found multiple bruises and hemorrages — 14 places with injuries. They also found duct tape residue on the boy’s wrists and ankles.

  The older siblings said Brittney and Matthew James forced the 9-year-old to urinate on himself.

  They detailed their own abuse as well.

  One child — a girl — said she was forced to stand outside overnight, while her parents stood watch to make sure she didn’t lie down and sleep.

  The other child — a boy — said his parents made him work outside in 100-degree heat while being denied access to water. He said he got so thirsty he drank from a dog bowl.

  Investigators interviewed Brittney and Matthew James.

  Brittney said she had no idea what the officers were talking about when they asked her about the allegations.

  She said that the 9-year-old boy was a constant liar, he stole money and food from the house. She said she and Matthew joked about needing to tie his hands so he wouldn’t steal. The investigator noted Brittney did not seem surprised or shocked by the allegations.

  In Matthew’s interview, he became extremely emotional. He denied restricting food and forcing the children to run for hours. He said he was not abusive and did not know why the 9-year-old would make the allegations.

  Matthew James is a teacher at Boron Junior/Senior High school. The Muroc Joint Unified school district released a statement saying they put Matthew James on administrative leave, and that the allegations do not reflect their values at any school.