Several members of a local family are in jail on charges involving the alleged rape and endangerment of a group of children.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Charles Calvin York, his brother Jeff A. York and Jeff’s wife, Sheri York.
Charles York, 47, of 109 Papaya Drive, Marysville has been charged with two counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition. Additionally, the state is asking that he be ruled a sexually violent predator.
Jeff A. York, 49, of 89 Cottonwood Drive, Marysville, is charged with three counts of endangering children and one count of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness.
Sheri York, 49, of 89 Cottonwood Drive, Marysville, is charged with three counts of endangering children.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said that in April 2017, the Union County Department of Job and Family Services opened a civil investigation into Jeff and Sheri York, “filed to protect a child.”
During that investigation, officials determined Charles York was acting inappropriately with children in the care of his brother and sister-in-law.
DJFS gave the information to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators determined that between 2010 and 2017, Charles York allegedly repeatedly raped and had sexual conduct with three children. According to court documents, the youngest of the children was 7-years-old when the alleged abuse began.
The prosecutor said that because of the age of the children, “essentially they were unable to resist.”
Phillips said investigators also determined that Jeff and Sheri York, “had knowledge and they failed to protect them.”
According to court documents, between November 2016 and April 2018, Jeff York threatened his wife in an effort to keep her from truthfully reporting what she knew.
In 2016, Charles York pleaded no contest to one count of sexual imposition. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed a charge of illegal restraint. In that case, Charles York admitted to crawling into bed with one of the same children identified in the most recent investigation.
He allegedly held the child down and fondled her. As a result of that conviction, Charles York was sentenced to 90 days in jail, though all 90 were suspended. He was also fined $500 with $350 suspended. He was ruled a Tier 1 Sexual Offender and ordered to have no contact with the child.
“Obviously, cases where children are victims are very difficult,” Phillips said. “When it involves family, it can be doubly more difficult because where you expect the care givers to be supportive of the child or the children, that isn’t always the case.”
He added, “children sometimes end up standing on their own because they aren’t getting support from the family and that makes these cases difficult and troubling.”
If convicted on all charges, Charles York could face life in prison without parole. Prosecutors are asking that Charles York also be labeled as a sexually violent predator.
Charles York has multiple disorderly conduct related convictions as well as a convictions for illegal hunting and for providing alcohol for minors. He is being held in the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg. His bond has been set at $100,000.
If convicted, Jeff York could face as many as 20 years in prison. He has multiple convictions for domestic violence, disorderly conduct and providing alcohol to minors. He also has a gun related conviction. His bond was set at $20,000 and he is being held in jail.
Sheri York could face as many as 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges. She is being held in Tri-County Regional Jail. Bond has been set at $25,000.