Mother Charged with Child Endangering

Kelly Dillery of Sandusky, Ohio, was charged with child endangering last July after she drove her power wheelchair in the street with her daughter strapped onto her lap.

Dillery, who has muscular dystrophy, often takes her four-year-old daughter, Kelsi, with her to run errands or visit the playground. She tries to use sidewalks but they are not always accessible. She says that on the day of the incident, she had to use the street to get to a crosswalk because the sidewalk had no curb cut. A passing motorist who thought his car mirror had hit Kelsi on the head reported Dillery to police.

A conviction of child endangerment carries a fine of up to $1,000 and a possible six months in jail. Dillery faces a grand jury in court on March 9.

Dillery’s lawyer told reporters, "What’s the difference with a parent putting a four-year-old child on a lawn mower with them or on a bicycle? I have to wonder why the charges were brought up."