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WRIGHT TWP. — A man accused of abusing children on two different occasions — including choking an infant — has now filed a complaint against a caseworker with Luzerne County Children and Youth.
Cory Dunn, 28, of Mountain Top, filed a private complaint dated Tuesday that names caseworker Kelley Vaxmonsky as the defendant.
Dunn’s complaint includes allegations of false reports to law enforcement, tampering with public records, false reports of child abuse, harassment and retaliation.
However, the filing is short on specifics. At one point, it says Vaxmonsky “has engaged in a course of fraudulent misconduct falsely incriminating (Dunn) and engaging in fictitious reporting to law enforcement agencies with the intent to implicate (Dunn) via unverified and perjured information to support the narrative she sought for criminal charging.”
The complaint goes on: “… Cory Dunn will offer his own testimony, as well as submission of evidence obtained through (his) investigation, to provide more specific details regarding the unlawful acts committed by (Vaxmonsky) at the time of the applicable hearing against (Vaxmonsky) … .”
The Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office is now expected to review the accusations.
Dunn declined to comment.
He was arraigned in January for a December case where he was accused of putting a 9-month-old in a chokehold after becoming frustrated the child kept crying. Police said a medical evaluation showed the baby had marks and bruising on the left side of its face and neck. Hospital staff also determined the injuries did not occur by accident, authorities reported.
Dunn was later arraigned on charges for a September case where he allegedly slammed a child’s head against the wall several times. Police say an 18-month-old was trying to crawl through the small opening of a large piece of Sheetrock that was used as a gate between the kitchen and laundry room. The child got stuck and started crying, which caused Dunn to get upset, according to officers.
Samantha Care, who reported the alleged abuse, is also facing charges in that case.
Dunn and Care were each scheduled for preliminary hearings before District Judge Ronald Swank on Wednesday, but the hearing was continued in light of Dunn’s complaint.
Swank explained the delay was to allow time for Children and Youth to review the charges and seek legal counsel.
Their hearings have been rescheduled for 10 a.m. April 26. Both Dunn and Care are free on bail.