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Wheelersburg Community Stunned Over Child Endangerment Case
By: WOUB Contributing Writer, WOUB Staff Writer
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The small tight-knit community of Wheelersburg remains stunned by news of alleged abuse against three children.
"It was just horrific for these children," Scioto County Sheriff's Capt. David Hall said.
"There are reports these children were tied to their beds for weeks at a time."
The children's mother and grandmother both were arrested and charged with child endangerment.
Juan Carlos Sanchez, 44, the children's stepfather, is charged with child endangerment and two counts of rape.
He's being held on $1 million bond.
Hall said one of the little girls sent an email to her online instructor, letting them know the kids needed help and to call 911.
"About 30 percent of our caseload is teacher and counselor referrals," said Lorra Fuller, director of Scioto County Children's Services.
"Ohio Revised Code says a teacher does not have the discretion to decide whether or not to report the alleged abuse.
They are mandated to report, and then it's our job to screen that and investigate."Children's Services has had more than 30 calls since November 2013.
The children in this case have been placed in foster care, awaiting the outcome of this investigation.
"We got to see smiles; there is hope," Hall said. "Hope that people love and care for them. That's why we do this job — to protect them."
This update contributed by WSAZ.com
Four children have been removed from a Wheelersburg home and three adults have been arrested for multiple crimes against them.
Sheriff Marty Donini said the case came to light when his office received a call on January 30, from a teacher with the Virtual Online Learning School saying she received an email from a student wanting her to call 911.
The student's email said she and her brothers and sisters were being tied to the beds and beat.
A Scioto County Sheriff's Deputy and Children's Services interviewed the children who said that they had been tied with ropes and chains to their beds for weeks at a time and sometimes longer.
The children stated that they were rarely fed and said they would be required to strip so they could be beaten with belts and paddles.
Donini said during this interview two of the children, ages 11 and age 9 reported that they had been repeatedly sexually assaulted.
Marks and scars on their bodies that matched the reported abuse.
These children were transported to Mayerson Center a part of children’s hospital in Cincinnati for treatment and are currently being treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus as outpatients.
As a result of the interviews and other information obtained during this investigation a search warrant was served at this residence on Collingswood Ave. Wheelersburg.
Juan Carlos Sanchez, 44, formerly from the Virgin Islands, has been charged with three counts of Child Endangerment and two counts of Rape.
He's being held on a $1 million bond.
The children's grandmother, Edwina Louis, 52, of Wheelersburg has been charged with three counts of Child Endangerment and is being held on a $150,000 bond.
The mother of the children, Bobbi Sue Pack, 31, also of Wheelersburg, has been charged with three counts of Child Endangerment and is also being held on a $150,000 bond.
A fourth person, Leah Dillon, 24, who fled the residence when Children Services arrived, is also being sought for questioning.
Donini said the investigation is ongoing and could result in other suspects being charged and more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date.
Anyone with any information concerning these crimes is being requested to contact Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091