WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Content in this article may be disturbing to some readers and viewers.
A judge in Washington County sentenced a woman to more than eight years in prison on Tuesday in a child abuse investigation that began last year.
Ana Miranda and her husband, Charles "Randy" Ward, were arrested in late April 2023. Detectives investigated after receiving reports that a child was being chained up in their Tigard home for more than 12 hours each day for nearly a year, in addition to physical and verbal abuse. Detectives gained a search warrant for the home and found evidence that corroborated the allegations. They indicated that the abuse was triggered by a child taking drinks and food from the kitchen, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
During the investigation, detectives learned that other children were abused in the home over many years, the sheriff's office said. At the time, the sheriff's office also reported that Miranda and Ward lived with nine children and two young adults.
Miranda's lawyers claimed she was overwhelmed by taking care of her children's kids.
"Chaining a child to a bed and denying food is not just a mistake," said Washington County Circuit Court Judge Chris Colburn during Tuesday's sentencing.
Miranda gained custody of the children in 2017. A year later, she began subjecting them to emotional and physical abuse, including depriving a 10-year-old boy of food and frequently tying him to his bed at night, according to the news release.
Between 2018 and April 2023, Miranda regularly physically abused the boy and his sibling, including binding him to furniture with a metal chain and padlocks.
Judge Colburn ordered Miranda to three years of probation and no contact with children.
The victims did not attend the sentencing, but the attorney for Miranda's youngest victim said he will never be able to recover from the abuse.
In July 2023, a Washington County grand jury indicted Miranda on multiple charges, including five counts of criminal mistreatment in the first degree. Prior to that, Miranda was indicted in May 2023 on charges including strangulation and unlawful use of a weapon.
Resources
To report abuse or neglect of a child in Oregon, call 855-503-7233. The Oregon Department of Human Services has more information on their website about how to recognize child abuse and prevention.
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