CRANBERRY TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A hearing for a New Bethlehem woman facing charges for allegedly making multiple false claims of child abuse was continued this week.

According to court documents, a hearing for 52-year-old Laurie Russo, of New Bethlehem, scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, has been continued and will resume at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, in Venango County Central Court.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred sometime between September 13, 2018, and February 9, 2019, at a residence on Acorn Drive, in Cranberry Township, Venango County.

According to a criminal complaint, Laurie Russo reported seven separate child abuse reports to Childline which were investigated by Children and Youth Services and/or the Pennsylvania State Police and determined to be unfounded.

The complaint states that as a result, Russo caused a false alarm of child abuse to be transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police and Venango County Children and Youth Services — Protective Intake Crisis Unit.

The following charges were filed against her:

– False Alarm To Agency Of Public Safety, Misdemeanor 1 (five counts)
– False Reports of Child Abuse, Misdemeanor 2 (four counts)