A disturbing child abuse case from Pennsylvania has ended with a prison sentence for a mother who admitted she restrained her own son for long hours while she was at work. The case has shocked many people because it involved an 11-year-old boy being handcuffed and confined inside his own home, not for safety, but as punishment for behaviour linked to eating habits and discipline issues.
What happened in North Lebanon Township
The woman at the centre of the case is Chazzity Candelario from North Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania. She was charged with several serious offences, including unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment of a minor, and endangering the welfare of children.
In November, she pleaded no contest to the charges. That means she did not admit guilt directly, but accepted the court’s punishment. This week, she was sentenced to serve between 16 months and five years in a state prison, according to local outlet WGAL.
Police discovery inside the home
Police were first called to Candelario’s home on January 11, 2025, after receiving a report that an 11-year-old boy was restrained with handcuffs. Officers arrived while the mother was at work and spoke to the children inside the house.
The children directed police to a bedroom, where the boy was found handcuffed to the railing of a top bunk bed. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had earlier been restrained in the basement and had managed to free himself before accidentally handcuffing himself again upstairs.
Authorities later confirmed that the boy’s mother had used handcuffs to restrain him to objects in the home, including an oil tank in the basement. The child told investigators that this had happened many times and that he was often left restrained for hours while his mother was away at work.
Reason given by the mother
According to prosecutors, Candelario told police she struggled to control her son’s behaviour while she was not at home. In court, it was revealed that on one occasion she restrained him for up to 17 hours because he had eaten too many hot dogs.
The judge in the case, Charles Jones of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, made it clear during sentencing that this behaviour was unacceptable. He told Candelario that nothing justified treating a child that way and stressed that a parent’s duty is to protect and care for their children.
Court reaction and sentencing
Prosecutors described the case as deeply troubling. The district attorney said that a parent’s role is to love and protect their children, not cause them harm. The court ultimately sentenced Candelario to between 16 months and five years in prison.
Her lawyer said she appeared remorseful during the legal process, but Candelario herself chose not to speak during sentencing.
Previous concerns and background
Court records show this was not the first time authorities had concerns about Candelario’s household. She was previously arrested in 2017 on charges related to child welfare and drug possession, along with her partner at the time. While those older cases are separate from this one, they added to concerns raised during the current investigation.
What has also unsettled many people is that her social media appeared to show normal family life. Photos posted online included smiling pictures of the children, including one set of Halloween photos where a child wore toy handcuffs as part of a costume. In light of the case, those images now feel deeply unsettling to many observers.
Why this case matters
This case has drawn attention because it highlights a serious issue: some children suffer abuse behind closed doors, even when families appear normal on the outside. It also raises important questions about how parents cope with stress, lack of support, and behavioural challenges in children.
Experts often say that when parents feel overwhelmed, the right step is to seek help from schools, counsellors, doctors, or social services. Restraining or harming a child is never acceptable and can cause lasting emotional damage.
