Franklin Woman Charged After Child Found Chasing Dog in Traffic Faces Hearing Today

| September 30, 2020

VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Franklin woman is facing a hearing today on child endangerment charges stemming from an incident where a child was found chasing a dog in traffic.

Court documents indicate 26-year-old Desiree Amber Vanistendael is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, on one first-degree count of child endangerment.

The charge stems from an incident in Franklin in June.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 2:31 p.m. on June 18, Franklin Police received a report of a little boy in only underwear chasing a dog in the middle of Meadville Pike, out in traffic.

The complaint states a Children and Youth Services (CYS) employee informed police the mother of the child, identified as Desiree Amber Vanistendael, was located and then took the child back inside their residence.

According to the complaint, the CYS employee reported she was on her way to Dale Avenue when she saw the child in the roadway chasing the dog. She was then able to catch both the child and the dog and was with them for 15 to 20 minutes before Vanistendael was located.

Police then spoke with Vanistendael about the incident. She reported she had told her son that she would take him to the playground, and then left him alone in the living room while she went to change her clothes in the bathroom. She stated when she came out of the bathroom, the child was gone, according to the complaint.

The complaint notes that this is the second incident of this type with this residence and child, and the child was subsequently removed from the home until additional actions were taken to ensure the child was no longer in danger.

The charge was filed against Vanistendael through Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office on August 28.


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