Child abuse cases in Pike

Posted 5/1/19

As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin announced several arrests made by the Pike County Criminal Investigative Division. The Pike County …

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Child abuse cases in Pike

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As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin announced several arrests made by the Pike County Criminal Investigative Division. The Pike County Criminal Investigation Division and the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center, are part of a Multidisciplinary Investigative Team that works tirelessly on investigating, supporting, and making sure all children who are victimized have their voice heard.

The Children’s Advocacy Center is for child victims of alleged physical or sexual abuse. It is a safe pace, with a goal to have the child only talk about a traumatic experience to one person. In the past, a child may have ended up talking about their experience to many people, over and over again. With the Children’s Advocacy Center model, a child is brought to a safe, child focused environment, by a non-offending caregiver. Once there, the child talks about their experience to a trained interviewer, in a way that does not re-traumatize the child.

To report suspected child abuse please call ChildLine at 800-932-0313.

The following individuals have been charged as a result of the ongoing efforts by the Pike County Criminal Investigation Division, Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Multidisciplinary Investigative Team, including colleagues at the Northeast PA Children’s Advocacy Center and Pike County Children and Youth Services:

John Aumick, 52, formerly of Bushkill, PA was charged with Rape of a Child, Statutory Sexual Assault, 3 counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault, four counts of Criminal Attempt, Sexual Assault, 3 counts of Indecent Assault, Corruption of Minors, all felonies, Indecent Exposure and two counts of Invasion of Privacy, all misdemeanors.  In December 2017, at the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center the child victim related that when she was 6 years old a relative, the Defendant John Aumick, raped her while she slept over at his house. She related she pushed him away and told him to stop.  The child stated that a few weeks after Aumick had raped her, he walked over to her and started to touch her vagina with his fingers. The victim told Aumick to stop, which he did not. Aumick was committed to the Pike County Correctional Facility and bail was denied. Aumick had a preliminary hearing on March 19, 2019 and all charges were bound over. Aumick is currently scheduled for the July trial term.

Danielle Lavin, age 37, of Hawley, PA was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Victim less than 6, a Felony, Endangering the Welfare of Children, a Felony, and Simple Assault. On March 18, 2019 the Criminal Investigation Division received a report of an assault that occurred on a school bus. According to the criminal complaint, Lavin, the Legal guardian of the victim, is seen on video parking the school bus she was driving after she did not like the way the child was seated. Lavin proceeds to sit in the seat with the victim and slams him into the interior bus wall and seat, which is audibly heard on video. The other children present on the bus were visibly upset by Lavin’s actions. Lavin is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 14, 2019 at Magisterial District Judge Shannon Muir’s Office.

Matthew Keller, age 36, of Milford, PA was charged with Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Endangering the Welfare of Children. On January 10, 2019 a report was received and the Child victim was brought to the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center. According to the criminal complaint Keller, struck the victim in the head several times. As a result of the blows to the head the child received a contusion which was photographed at the Children’s Advocacy Center. Keller waived his preliminary hearing in early April, and is currently being scheduled for an arraignment.

Michael Phraner, age 52, of Dingmans Ferry, PA was charged with Endangering the Welfare of Children and 2 counts of Simple Assault. On December 6, 2018, after an injury was observed on the victim’s nose and a report was received by the Criminal Investigation Division security footage was obtained from the McDonalds in Lords Valley, which showed Phraner hit the child in the head twice which resulted in the victim’s face to slam into a table, causing an injury.   On March 26, 2019, Phraner waived his preliminary hearing, and is currently being scheduled for an arraignment. Phraner is currently scheduled for the July Trial term.

Martin Wieczorek, age 60, of East Stroudsburg, PA was charged with Strangulation, Endangering the Welfare of Children, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and 2 counts of Simple Assault. During the victim’s interview at the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center, the victim related that an incident between the victim and a sibling occurred, when Wieczorek ran upstairs, looked at both children, and started to curse out the victim, he then grabbed her by the neck pushing her back against the couch to the point she could not breath or move. Witnesses, who were also interviewed at the CAC, observed the victims face turning red/purple. Wieczorek, had to be ripped off the victim.  Wieczorek was committed to the Pike County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000.00, and waived his preliminary hearing. Wieczorek is currently scheduled for the July Trial term.

Beau Becker, age 43, of Bushkill, PA was charged with Corruption of Minors, a Felony, Endangering the Welfare of Children, a Felony, Possession of a Small Amount of Marihuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In September 2018, an adult came forward alleging Becker had been having sex with her since she was 16. She described several incidents, the sex toys used and that Becker had a very specific scar on his penis. A search warrant was executed on Becker’s residence and several sex toys, pill bottles, marihuana, and paraphernalia were found.  Becker was committed to the Pike County Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000.00 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 7 and Magisterial District Judge Paul Menditto’s Office.

 

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