Nicole Blackburn
Frank Lewis
PDT Staff Writer
A Scioto County couple has been charged with child endangering after two small children were reportedly locked in their room for several hours, when the couple left them alone.
Nicole D. Blackburn, 25, one of the parents, was arrested and charged with child endangering, a felony of the fourth degree. A warrant will also be filed on Jason S. Campbell, 33, on an identical charge, as the result of the incident.
Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said his deputies responded to a complaint that occurred around 2 p.m. Monday at 314 Center St., West Portsmouth. The complaint was that two small children age 4 and age 5 were locked in a bedroom for more than two hours while the parents were gone.
The Washington Township deputy and detectives from the Sheriff’s Office along with Scioto County Children Services responded to the residence and were able to get the children out of the home safely from their bedroom window.
Neighbors, including other children, occupied the children’s attention through the window until officers arrived at the scene, and were eventually able to instruct one of the children on how to unlock the window. Once that was done, the children were removed. The children were taken into the custody and care of the Scioto County Children Services.
Investigators contacted the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office for permission to enter the house to check for any other children. None were found, and the house was secured before officers left the scene.
Blackburn is being held in Scioto County Jail on a $50,000 bond and was to be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Wednesday.
“These cases are especially difficult because they deal with children, and most officers have children,” Scioto County Sheriff’s Captain David Hall said. “You just can’t figure out how someone can mistreat a child like that.”
Donini said anyone who has information about the case should contact detective Paul Blaine at 740-351-1091 and all information will be kept confidential.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Frank on Twitter @FrankLewisPDT.
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