A Sutherland man has been charged with child abuse after he allegedly handed his teenage daughter a shotgun and told her to use it to kill herself.

Shortly after midnight on August 25th, Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a female juvenile wanting to harm herself in Sutherland.  Deputies responded to a residence in Sutherland and made contact with the juvenile, her parents and several other witnesses.

Deputies spoke with the juvenile who told them she had been to the Hershey Teen Dance and met a boy.

When she arrived home, she told her father, 42-year-old Shane Halcott about the boy.  Deputies say Halcott began to berate the juvenile and told her she was not allowed to date any boys.

The juvenile became distressed and an argument began.  Authorities say at one point, the juvenile commented that she wanted to hurt herself.

The juvenile and other witnesses reported that, at this time, Halcott retrieved a pump shotgun, loaded it and tried to hand it to the girl.  Halcott allegedly told her to use the gun to kill herself on several occasions.

Deputies then interviewed Halcott who did not deny the allegations.

As a result, Halcott was placed under arrest and charged with Felony Child Abuse.  He was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Deputies say the investigation is ongoing.