Sharpsville couple faces child abuse charges

April 19--SHARON -- A Sharpsville couple faces multiple charges alleging child abuse that left two children with multiple bruises, and one of them with a broken bone, police said.

Sharpsville police charged Sommer Nicole Flickner, 32, and Anthony Wayne Holder, 33, both of 1566 West Ridge Ave., Sharpsville, Wednesday with five counts of aggravated assault involving a child under the age of 6, and two counts of endangering the welfare of children, police said.

Holder, the children's father, and Flickner, whom the children refer to as "mommy," were arraigned Wednesday and released on unsecured bond of $50,000.

According to the criminal complaint, one of the children was taken to Sharon Regional Medical Center after coming to school with what appeared to be a broken collar bone. The child had missed the previous week of school, the complaint said.

Doctors determined the child suffered a broken clavicle and had leg bruises consistent with "finger tip" contusions, as well as a moderate-sized bruise along the hairline.

Doctors discovered multiple injuries on the second child including "finger tip" bruises on her thigh, bruises on her hand, torso and bruising above her right eye, according to the complaint. The child also had "significant" hair loss that the criminal complaint described as "obvious, especially when compared to older photographs."

According to the criminal complaint, police reviewed medical records from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC on Wednesday that revealed the second child's MRI to show brain changes consistent in neglected and malnourished children. The doctor also explained the child's hair loss as "traction alopecia," which occurs when hair is pulled out, opposed to falling out naturally.

On April 11, police said the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission Children's Advocacy Center conducted separate interviews with the two siblings. Both children said they had been smacked, hit with belts and spoons, and tied up with belts by the defendants. All of the children's injuries were determined to have been sustained within the past two weeks.

Holder and Flickner both admitted to "spanking" the children, but told police they had "no idea" how the children were injured. The couple has had custody of the children for the past month, according to the criminal complaint.

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