TRUMBULL COUNTY Prosecutors office refiles child endangering charges

The new trial is set for Sept. 27.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Girard woman will once again be facing five counts of child endangering.
The Trumbull County prosecutors office has decided to refile child endangering charges against Vivian Dunkel.
Dunkel had faced seven child endangering counts but earlier this month a jury acquitted her on two counts and couldn't reach a decision on five other counts.
Neither Dunkel nor her attorney, Anthony Meranto, could be reached to comment.
Tom Wrenn, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said Dunkel's new trial is set for Sept. 27.
Dunkel, 27, who had maintained her innocence, testified during the trial, which began June 7 in the courtroom of Judge Peter Kontos of common pleas court. She is now free.
Defense argument
Meranto told jurors during the trial that his client was charged because she is dating Richard Harris. Harris' wife died during a house fire in November 2000, Meranto said. Girard police are treating the death of Tammie L. Harris, 33, as a homicide, but no arrests have been made.
Meranto had told jurors that he thinks Girard police thought his client knew something about the homicide.
The defense attorney noted that his client had worked at a child-care center for 18 months without a complaint.
Wrenn said Dunkel neglected and abused her two children.
An employee of the Trumbull County Children Services Board testified during the trial that Dunkel's 3-year-old girl had abrasions on her body and was suffering from hair loss.
The boy, who was 6, testified that he was locked in the closet for several hours while his mother went to Six Flags Amusement Park in Aurora.
sinkovich@vindy.com