Woman enters guilty pleas to child-abuse charges


YOUNGSTOWN — A woman who was charged with aiding her husband in abusing three of their children entered guilty pleas today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Judge John Durkin will sentence Dawn Cavna, 28, of Mahoning Avenue, in June. Prosecutors are recommending probation.

Her husband, Christopher Cavna, is serving a 90-year federal prison sentence on charges that he took pictures of the children engaging in sexual activity between January 2012 and ending in 2013 and sent them through his cellphone and the mail.

Christopher Cavna also has a 2011 conviction on child-pornography charges.

Dawn Cavna was to have a bench trial today. The children, who were ages 1, 5 and 7 at the time of the abuse, are living with relatives.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com