Police: Parents allowed girl to stay with man who molested her
Associated Press
HOPEWELL, Pa. - A couple allowed a relative who had been convicted of molesting their 10-year-old daughter to babysit the girl, police said.
Police have charged the parents, who live in Hopewell, with endangering the welfare of a child for allowing Ronald E. Dodson, 53, of Saxton, to watch the girl two years after he was convicted of molesting her.
Dodson was charged with aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault for allegedly fondling and molesting the girl twice on May 31 in two Bedford County apartments.
Dodson, who is the father's uncle, was sentenced in 2001 to four years' probation and a $500 fine. He was still on probation when he allegedly molested the girl this spring.
The father was ordered to stand trial during a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
His attorney, Donley Logue, said his client might have made a mistake, but did not knowingly endanger his daughter. (Wtf?!?!)
"I will concede that he may have been negligent in allowing this man to oversee the child for a couple hours. But you have to prove that he knowingly endangered the child," Logue said. "He thought (Dodson) had turned over a new leaf. He made an error in judgment about a person who was supposed to be rehabilitated and on probation."
A preliminary hearing for the mother, who faces the same charge as her husband, was rescheduled. The Associated Press could not find a telephone number for the parents and could not immediately reach them for comment Thursday.
There were no telephone numbers listed under Dodson's name in the Saxton area and he could not be reached for comment. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/local/6428319.htm