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LCTA receives two statewide awards

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Local burden to reduce Susquehanna River pollutants critiqued by Luzerne County officials

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; A Mountain Top man accused of abusing children on two different occasions has filed a revised complaint against a caseworker with Luzerne County Children and Youth.</p><p>The Luzerne County District Attorney&#8217;s Office rejected Cory Dunn&#8217;s original complaint earlier this month, so he filed a new complaint with more details on his allegations. He is accusing caseworker Kelley Vaxmonsky of making false reports to law enforcement, tampering with public records, and making false reports of child abuse.</p><p>Court documents indicate prosecutor Samuel Sanguedolce declined the initial complaint, citing a lack of probable cause and prosecutorial merit. The initial filing was short on specifics about Dunn&#8217;s claims against Vaxmonsky.</p><p>The new complaint, filed Tuesday, sheds new details on Dunn&#8217;s allegations.</p><p>The complaint alleges that Vaxmonsky reported to authorities that Dunn violated a protection-from-abuse order by being in the presence on his girlfriend and children on Jan. 8. That report resulted in a emergency shelter care order.</p><p>However, the complaint cites a dispatch card from Hanover Township Police, showing officers determined Dunn was not at the premises on that date.</p><p>Vaxmonsky then told authorities during an emergency hearing Jan. 11 that police had not searched the residence, Dunn alleges.</p><p>In a separate incident Sept. 13, the complaint says an investigation was conducted on an incident, but it was determined to be unfounded. However, Vaxmonsky later instituted a new probe of the Sept. 13 incident &#8220;in an effort to support the false narrative she had commenced,&#8221; the filing states.</p><p>Vaxmonsky then moved to file charges against Dunn &#8220;despite the previous determination of unfounded allegations&#8221; and an arrest warrant was issued Feb. 7.</p><p>Dunn, 29, faces charges of abusing children in two separate incidents &#8212; one where he allegedly <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/626102/police-man-choked-infant-after-he-became-frustrated-with-it-crying" target="_blank">put a child in a chokehold</a> and another where he allegedly <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/632824/man-previously-charged-with-choking-infant-facing-new-charges" target="_blank">slammed a child&#8217;s head against a wall</a>. Samantha Care, who reported the second instance of alleged abuse, also faces charges of endangering the welfare of children, obstruction, corruption of minors and making false reports.</p><p>Dunn and Care were each scheduled for preliminary hearings before District Judge Gerald Feissner on Wednesday, but they were continued. A new court date was not immediately announced.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Cory Dunn is seen at a prior court appearance. He has revised a complaint he filed previously against a caseworker with Luzerne County Children and Youth. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_DUNN-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cory Dunn is seen at a prior court appearance. He has revised a complaint he filed previously against a caseworker with Luzerne County Children and Youth. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Man accused of hurting childrensays he&#8217;s victim of false reports</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Man accused of abusing children refiles complaint against caseworker