WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — UPDATE: July 22 at 12:55 p.m.
Gabriel and Anna Bencosme, who were arrested back in April in Wayne County after two children were reportedly found with duct tape "across their mouths and nose areas," have been indicted on charges in connection.
According to one indictment, Anna was indicted on two counts of first-degree strangulation, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
In addition, a second indictment reveals that Gabriel was indicted on two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and two counts of failing to report dependency, abuse, or neglect.
The indictments show that both are booked on a $10,000 bond each.
UPDATE: May 7 at 9:00 a.m.
A second person has been arrested following an investigation on April 28, in which a woman was arrested after two children were found with duct tape "across their mouths and nose areas," according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office says a Wayne County District Court Complaint Warrant of Arrest was obtained for Gabriel Bencosme, who they say is Anna Bencosme's husband.
According to the sheriff's office, on May 6, deputies arrested Gabriel at his home and charged him with first-degree wanton endangerment, endangering the welfare of a minor, and failure to report child depend neglect/abuse.
He was booked in the Wayne County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash bond.
Original Story:
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office reports that a woman was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after two children were found with duct tape "across their mouths and nose areas."
According to the sheriff's office, they received a complaint from dispatch that a woman was reportedly "screaming at and yanking on a child while being parked in the back parking lot of the Wayne County Judicial Center."
The sheriff's office, along with the Monticello Police Department, responded to the area and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle as it was leaving the parking lot.
According to the sheriff's office, when officers made contact, they found four children, two of which had duct tape across their faces.
The sheriff's office says that officers immediately removed the tape, and while interviewing the woman, she reportedly stated that "it was her children and she could discipline her children however she wanted, and this act was routinely done."
As a result, the sheriff's office says that Anna Bencosme was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree strangulation (domestic violence), two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
According to the sheriff's office, Bencosme was booked in the Wayne County Detention Center, and an investigation has been opened with the Kentucky Department of Child Protection Cabinet.
