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Two teens accused of abusing 3-year-old
By Stephen Szucs The Chronicle-Telegram
LORAIN —The two Lorain teens accused of abusing a 3-year-old child by holding her head in a public toilet and videotaping the act have each been charged with child endangering.
Sierra Sanchez, 19, of Lorain, and a 16-year-old Lorain girl were charged after the girl’s father found a cell phone with three separate videos depicting the abuse.
The girl’s mother, 18-year-old Alisha Wicker, was friends with Sanchez, and a cousin of the 16-year-old, according to Lorain police, and will not be charged.
The three acts all occurred on March 29, but began in a Denny’s restaurant restroom on Henderson Drive, when the 16-year-old shoved the girl’s head within the rim of a toilet bowl and proceeded to slam the lid on the girl’s head, while Sanchez videotaped the incident.
The girl can be heard screaming on the video and seen grasping on to the toilet bowl’s rim, while the other girls laugh. The 16-year-old lets the girl up, but then repeats the act.
Wicker was working at the restaurant, but wasn’t aware of what was being done with the girl, police said.
“The defendants said they were just playing around and they didn’t have any intention of hurting her,” said Lorain police Det. Chris Kovach. “It didn’t look like the girl did anything to provoke it.”
Sanchez and the 16-year-old then returned to Wicker’s East 29th Street apartment, where they continued to torment the girl by splashing water on her and pulling the back of her underwear midway up her back.
The girl, again, can be heard screaming on the video and calling for her “mommy,” and Wicker, who was in another part of the apartment at the time, responded by telling her friends to leave her (daughter) alone, police said.
Sanchez was supposed to be arraigned Wednesday in Lorain Municipal Court, but failed to show.
“I’m kind of baffled why she didn’t show up,” Kovach said. “In all likelihood, a warrant will probably be issued.”
The 16-year-old girl is being processed through the juvenile court system, and hasn’t yet had her court date set.
Patti-Jo Burtnett, a spokeswoman for Lorain County Children’s Services, wouldn’t comment on the whereabouts of the child. The child had been staying with a grandparent during the police investigation.
The child’s father, 20-year-old Ridge Gaddy, is no longer involved with Wicker, and lives in a separate apartment.
I was appalled at what I read in the paper and saw in the video.
My guess is that these teens recorded this to use it on youtube. Well, I’m here to tell you it was disgusting and I’m glad someone found it on the phone. If it hadn’t been found, these teens would have continued torturing this little girl.
I cried when I saw that video. That poor little girl was scared and obviously hurt. I’m sure it didn’t feel good to have the toilet seat slammed on her head or have her underpants pulled up her back. I heard her calling for her Mom. That was so sad to hear.
And we as Moms need to remember to come to our kid’s aid when they call. Although MOST of the time, they’re calling our names just to see if we’ll come, sometimes it’s for real. This was one of the times when the little girl wasn’t being annoying but actually needed help.
What kind of teen would do something like that to a little child?
So how do we protect other children from these teens and others like them? I can only imagine that they babysit; maybe not but probable.
I think there should be a web site to list reputable babysitters. Ones who have been referenced and have a good reputation.
OK, I’m done. Needless to say, this was HORRIBLE!!!!!!
I’m absolutely disgusted by this! I picked on my share of kids in my time, but never did I think it was a good idea to hold a 3yr old’s head in a toilet. 3 YEARS OLD!!!! If I hadn’t seen the video for it, I wouldn’t have believed it. I don’t know all the circumstances here, but I can’t help blaming mom for this. Did she not notice her child’s soaking wet head when the kids returned from the bathroom at Denny’s? I’d like to shove the two teenager’s heads in toilets and see how they like it. How could they claim they had “No intention of hurting her”? I guess the old saying is true, you can’t cure stupidity.
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