ELYSBURG - An Elysburg woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of her 7-year-old son who was found three times walking barefoot by himself on Route 487 and Spruce Street.
Debbie Ann Lisiewicz, 38, of 153 Spruce St., was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones on a felony of endangering the welfare of children, a misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor of recklessly endangering another person.
The charges filed by Ralpho Township Cpl. Bryon Chowka relate to incidents that occurred Oct. 7 on the highway (West Valley Avenue) near Spruce Street, Oct. 20 in the 200 block of Spruce Street, and Dec. 8 on Spruce Street near West Center Street.
Lisiewicz was released after posting $10,000 bail and is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on the charges Feb. 6 before Jones.
According to a criminal complaint, Officer Chris Dailey responded to the Oct. 7 incident involving Lisiewicz's son walking without shoes at about 3:30 p.m. Police said the child was unsupervised and wearing a pair of jeans and a short-sleeve T-shirt.
Police said personnel from Northumberland County Children and Youth Services were contacted about the incident and responded to the township police department. At about 4:50 p.m., police said Lisiewicz contacted Northumberland County Communications Center to report her child missing. She later came to the police station and identified the child as her son, who is autistic.
Lisiewicz told police she placed her son in the care of her 20-year-old daughter while she was attending an auction in Shamokin. Upon returning, Lisiewicz said she noticed her son was missing and called the 911 center.
At about 9:40 a.m. Oct. 20, Chief of Police Stuart Appel observed the unsupervised child walking on the road in the 200 block of Spruce Street without shoes. The child was then transported by the chief to his home and turned over to his mother. Lisiewicz told Appel that they had recently moved into their Spruce Street and her son wasn't used to the surroundings. Lisiewicz also said she didn't have enough locks on the home to prevent her son from wandering off.
Jeff Crowl told police he was traveling on Spruce Street toward West Center Street between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Dec. 8 when he observed an unsupervised child standing on Spruce Street wearing only a diaper and T-shirt. Crowl said he attempted to communicate with the boy so he could find out where he lived, but the child had difficulty speaking to him. Crowl said he led the boy from the road and approached a nearby house where Crowl's son, who was with him, believed the child lived. Crowl said a frantic woman inside the home, who was later identified as Lisiewicz, answered the door and immediately stated, "Nobody called the cops, did they?"
Crowl later reported the incident to police.
Lisiewicz told police her son was able to exit the home through a kitchen door and basement door, respectively, on the second and third occasions.