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Officials: Kent County Couple Facing 646 Charges Stemming From Child Abuse Investigation

- by Staff Writer

A Kent County couple has been indicted on 646 charges, including more than 80 felonies, for abusing their two children prosecutors said Wednesday.

Officials said over a period of 20 months, Mary Vinson, 45, and Charles Vinson, 36, are alleged to have abused their children, including making them stand for long periods of time; withholding food; force-feeding them, and physically assaulting the victims. Both children, who have since been transferred into the custody of the Division of Family services, were hospitalized several times due to the severity of the abuse, which was caught on video by cameras the parents placed in the children’s room added officials.

“These are the cases that keep us up at night,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The evidence in this case is disturbing and my prayers are with the victims who, thank God, are somewhere safe. We will seek swift and complete justice against the accused; nothing matters more than protecting our kids.”

The charges against both defendants are as follows:

Charles Vinson:

  • 6 counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
  • 12 counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • 9 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • 2 counts of Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 2 counts of Conspiracy 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 2 counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
  • 2 counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
  • 3 counts of Menacing, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
  • 3 counts of Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 3 counts of Endangering the Welfare, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 2 counts of False Statement, a Class G Felony

Mary Vinson:

  • 7 counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
  • 12 counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • 2 counts of Conspiracy 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 4 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • 6 counts of Menacing, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
  • 71 counts of Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 2 counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
  • 225 counts of Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 3 counts of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree, a Class E Felony
  • 11 counts of Attempted Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
  • 7 counts of Strangulation, a Class E Felony
  • 1 count of Attempted Strangulation, a Class E Felony
  • 244 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor
  • 2 counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
  • 3 counts of False Statement, a Class G Felony

If convicted on all charges, Mary Vinson faces a minimum sentence of 40 years and a maximum sentence of more than 1,150 years; Charles Vinson would face a minimum sentence of 16 years and a maximum sentence of more than 270 years.

Deputy Attorneys General Kitty Dickerson and Erik Towne of the DOJ’s Special Victims Unit secured the indictment with support from DOJ Investigator Pete Fraley and Paralegal Nicole Rollins. The investigation was led by detectives from the Troop 3 Major Crimes Unit of Delaware State Police.

Source: DOJ