Huntingdon County former coach and wife charged after allegedly locking kids in dog crates

WOOD TOWNSHIP - New details are emerging about a child endangerment case in Huntingdon County.

A former assistant coach and his wife are behind bars after police said they locked two of their children in dog cages as punishment.

Nicholas Chamberlain coached Tussey Mountain softball for two years. He was the assistant coach, and before that he was a volunteer basketball coach for the school district.

After he and his wife Linda Chamerblain were charged on Friday, the school district said he was no longer on the payroll.

According to the Huntingdon County district attorney, on June 19 one of their seven children ran to a neighbor’s house, saying he had just escaped from a dog crate.

“While the rest of the family members were watching a movie, he was able to escape and run next door,” said David Smith, Huntingdon County district attorney.

According to Smith, the family used the dog crates to punish the kids. He described the crates as standard crates, used for large dogs. The children couldn't walk in, but instead they had to crawl inside the cage, and it was locked behind them. Smith said the children were locked for hours, or sometimes overnight.

While in the cages, the children had no access to a bathroom, food, or water. The children said this happened multiple times.

“This is beyond discipline, this is cruel and it is criminal. These allegations are horrific,” Smith said.

Two boys, ages 6 and 10, told investigators they were locked in the cages. Another victim, a 10-year-old girl, is listed. A criminal complaint said Nicholas and Linda buzzed her hair off as a punishment. Police said they also found a small scar on the 6-year-old who told police it came from Nicholas poking him in the chest with a butter knife.

Smith could not confirm where the children are now, but said Children and Youth Services are investigating.

The pair is expected to appear in court in August.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfncKvwMinnp2nnmKwsMHNrbBmnp%2Bnuqa%2BjJymmpuYYq6vsIywoJ%2BdXZi1or7GnptmmZapsrN5wKWjnp%2BVmbm6ecuomqShnpx6rLXDrGSipl2ZvKh5wquYrZ2j