Austintown couple pleads guilty to disciplining son by allowing dog to attack him
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - A mother an father from Austintown have pled guilty to multiple child endangerment charges against them in court Monday morning.
Both 32-year-old Samuel Myers and 35-year-old Sara Myers pled guilty to one felony count of Endangering Children and two misdemeanor counts of Endangering Children.
The couple was originally indicted on two more misdemeanor counts of endangering children, but court employees tell 21 News these two counts were dropped.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in Niles when a tipster noticed a 13-year-old boy with bruises outside of a store. The tipster told police the boy was told to blame those bruises on his dog.
The boy told the tipster that his parents willingly allowed the dog to attack him as a form of punishment for "acting out and stealing food." Police say the boy appeared to be malnourished and his bare feet appeared to be dirty.
Further investigation led police to the couple's home, which police say smelled like urine and feces. In addition to the 13-year-old, a seven-year-old boy and five-year-old girl were found to live in the home.
The children were placed in the care of a relative.
The couple is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1 at 2:00 p.m. in Judge Anthony D'Apolito's court.
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