LINCOLNTON, N.C. – A husband and wife face child abuse charges after it was discovered one of their children had been beaten with a paddle.
On May 12, 2023 Lincoln County Sheriff’s detectives received a report from the Cleveland County DSS concerning the abuse of a child that occurred at a residence in Vale.
The young child was in speech therapy in Cleveland County when the therapist observed bruising on the child’s bottom. The Cleveland County social worker went to the Vale residence and met with the parents; photos were taken of a wooden paddle with holes drilled in it. The worker also viewed home security camera footage showing the child being spanked with the wooden paddle.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective F. Runyon went to the residence to follow up on the investigation and also viewed the home security footage. The investigation revealed the child had been abused on a number of different occasions.
On May 17, 2023 Detective Runyon charged Jonathan Niles Orren, 38, and Silvia Orren, 39, of Vale, NC with one felony count each of child abuse involving any serious injury. Silvia Orren was released on an unsecured bond while Jonathan Orren was released on a $7,500 secured bond.
The six-year-old victim and her five-year-old brother have been removed from the home and placed with relatives out of state.
