Mother charged with letting children wander
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg woman is accused of allowing her two young children to wander alone around the borough’s business district – even crossing heavily traveled High Street – on multiple occasions last year.
Amanda Nicole Martin, 26, of 291 E. High St., turned herself into borough police Monday afternoon, a few days after officers filed charges of child endangerment, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.
Waynesburg police Officer Jorel Hanley said the final incident occurred June 14 when a 5-year-old girl, who was barefoot, and 3-year-old boy were seen walking along High Street more than a half-mile from home. Witnesses told police they saw the children running across West High Street near Belko Foods before onlookers stopped them a block away.
Hanley said Martin was sleeping on the floor when they returned the children to her apartment. Martin’s boyfriend, Anthony Stankowitz, told police he was walking with the children in town when they ran away from him. Hanley said that was a different story than what the boy, who said his mother was sleeping when they left, told officers when they found him.
It was the third time in less than a month the children left the home while Martin was asleep, Hanley said.
“Each time, they seem to get farther and farther away from home,” Hanley said.
The children were also found wandering in the borough May 23 when a neighbor stopped them on Franklin Street, court documents indicate. The children were also seen crossing East High Street without supervision June 4, police said. Months earlier, the boy was found playing alone on a neighbor’s porch Feb. 7, police said.
Police charged Martin with two counts each of child endangerment and disorderly conduct for the May 23 incident, and she was scheduled in plea court Monday. It was not immediately known if her hearing was rescheduled because of the new charges.
Hanley said it took nearly seven months to file charges in the June 14 incident because he has been attempting to interview Martin and Stankowitz on multiple occasions, but they refused to cooperate. Martin, who faces felony charges of child endangerment because of the reoccurring incidents, was arraigned Monday afternoon by District Judge Jesse Cramer.
Hanley said charges of hindering apprehension are pending against Stankowitz.
Greene County Children and Youth Services is now involved in the case.