FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin woman is facing assault, child endangerment, and related charges after her two-year-old son was found with bruising on his buttocks.
According to court documents, on January 22, the Franklin Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 22-year-old Vanysia J. Covington, of Franklin:
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
The charges were filed after the Franklin Police Department investigated a Children’s and Youth Services (CYS) report of a toddler with bruising on his buttocks and child abuse was suspected.
According to a criminal complaint, on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, Patrolman James Harrah was assigned a CYS report stating that a two-year-old male victim was seen at Meadville Medical Center with bruising to his buttocks. The physician suspected abuse, and the victim stated that “Richie whooped him.”
Franklin Police Officers found that the victim was in the care of Vanysia Covington and 25-year-old Richard Jones at a residence on Dale Avenue on September 18, 2018.
It was learned that the victim’s mother — Vanysia Covington — had left the child in the care of Jones around 4:00 p.m. on September 18 when she left for work. Shortly thereafter, Jones contacted Covington stating that the victim had fallen down some stairs, and then she came home. Jones stated that when he checked the victim after the fall, he found a cluster of bruises in the area of the buttocks that he stated appeared to be old.
Jones had denied the allegations of abuse and stated that he had never spanked or physically corrected the child in any manner. During the interview, Jones “displayed several signs of being deceitful,” according to the complaint.
In an interview, Covington stated that she had bathed and dressed the child night before getting ready for work, and there was no bruising on the child at that time. Covington had also stated that she did see bruises once she was called back to the apartment, the complaint states.
Neither individual had provided the duty of care to the victim after causing or learning of said injuries, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, the victim’s father and stepmother took the child to Meadville Medical Center immediately upon learning of the injuries. Meadville Medical Center reported to CYS, and CYS sent the photographs of the victim’s injuries to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Center to have them reviewed by physicians for a medical assessment for the concerns of child maltreatment. The physicians’ assessment was that they believe the bruises were the result of physical abuse and not from a fall down the stairs.
A preliminary hearing for Covington is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on February 20 with Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland presiding.
Charges against Jones were filed on November 29.
His preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for January 9; however, it was rescheduled for February 9 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Judge Kirtland.
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