WEST CHESTER, PA — A West Chester couple turned themselves in to authorities earlier this month, following charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from an incident last September when their four-year-old child was found wandering alone in a parking lot at night.
On September 25, 2023, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department responded to a call from a concerned resident in the 2300 block of Pond View Drive in East Goshen Township. Emergency medical services were dispatched to check on the well-being of the child, who was found unharmed.
Upon arrival, police officers conducted an immediate investigation, which led them to the child’s parents, James Hickey and Tara Bennett. Both parents were found unconscious in their residence, allegedly due to an overdose. Chester County Children Youth & Family Services were promptly notified about the incident.
An arrest warrant for one count of endangering the welfare of children was issued for both Hickey and Bennett on December 14, 2023. The couple, aged 49 and 44 respectively, voluntarily surrendered to District Court 15-1-02, Honorable Mackenzie Smith, on January 2, 2024.
Both Hickey and Bennett were released on $50,000 unsecured bail. However, Bennett was immediately taken back into custody due to an unrelated active warrant. A preliminary hearing for the couple has been scheduled for January 29, 2024.
It is important to remember that these are allegations at this stage, and both Hickey and Bennett are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. As the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police continue their investigation, more details may emerge that could further illuminate the circumstances surrounding this case.
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