When Did TLC Know About 'Honey Boo Boo' Abuse Scandal?

ETONLINE

In the Honey Boo Boo scandal is TLC partly to blame?

While Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star June "Mama June" Shannon continues to face criticism for allegedly getting back together with convicted sex offender Mark McDaniel, ET is also looking into what and when TLC knew about McDaniel.

One month after Here Comes Honey Boo Boo began airing, Mama June's eldest daughter Anna "Chikadee" Cardwell had abuse documents sealed. These papers contained allegations that McDaniel molested her multiple times between April and Oct. 2002. Today, Chickadee told ET that the network helped with the legal process to protect her privacy.

NEWS: Could Mama June Lose Her Kids?

"Did [TLC] know beforehand? If they did, they are not under any legal duty to reveal it," said Nancy Grace.

Mama June has four daughters: Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon and Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell.

Now we know that McDaniel isn't the only sex offender that Mama June has been romantically involved with. Her daughter Chubbs' father Michael Anthony Ford is also a convicted sex offender.

"That's at least two of the men that Mama June has brought into the home that target little children sexually," said Grace. "That's a problem."

TLC canceled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo after TMZ pictures surfaced allegedly showing Mama June and McDaniel house shopping together.

NEWS: Mama June Reacts to Disturbing Allegations

Our reporter David Begnaud spoke to Mama June in Georgia, where she told him that she hasn't seen McDaniel since he was released from prison.

"This has me very distraught, because for a decade I prosecuted child molestations like this, and I never had a single child molestation case that occurred in the home where the mother sided with the child," said Nancy Grace.

These disturbing allegations could lead Honey Boo Boo's father Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson to fight for custody over her.

NEWS: Honey Boo Boo's Sister Anna Cardwell Talks to ET

"This can play out in a couple of different ways," legal analyst Darren Kavinoky told ET yesterday. "Either in a family court action that's brought by Sugar Bear or the Department of Children Services can decide to get involved on their own."

Child Protective authorities investigated Mama June in 2012 after Honey Boo Boo was seen on Toddlers & Tiaras drinking "go-go juice" -- a blend of Mountain Dew and Red Bull -- but no charges were ever filed.