A mother, Chazzity Candelario, has been sentenced to 16 months to five years in prison for shackling her 11-year-old son to a fuel tank for 17 hours as a form of punishment. Candelario, 33 at the time of her arrest, pleaded no contest to felony charges of unlawful restraint of a minor and false imprisonment of a minor, as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children back in November.
Candelario’s actions came to light on January 11, 2025, when law enforcement officers responded to a report of a boy restrained with handcuffs in her home in North Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that the juvenile’s mother had handcuffed him to an oil tank in the basement. Her son recounted being confined for hours due to behavior issues while she was at work, at times fastened to different objects.
This incident was not Candelario’s first brush with the law, as she previously faced legal troubles in 2017 related to endangering the welfare of children, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia possession involving her children. During her sentencing, Candelario remained silent, while her lawyer expressed her remorse. Lebanon District Attorney Pier Hess Graf emphasized the betrayal of a mother’s duty to care for and protect her children, stating that Candelario had inflicted suffering and subjected her children to her own malevolence.
Judge Charles Jones, during sentencing, condemned Candelario’s actions, emphasizing the need for her to make amends with her children. The case highlights the importance of parental responsibility and the severe consequences of neglecting the well-being of children.