Mother Arrested for Allegedly Handcuffing Son to Basement Oil Tank

North Lebanon Township resident charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful restraint and false imprisonment of a minor. Photo credit: Lebanon County Regional Police.

Mother Arrested for Alleged Abuse After Handcuffing Son to Oil Tank in Basement

Chazzity Candelario, 33, of North Lebanon Township, has been charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful restraint and false imprisonment of a minor, as well as a misdemeanor for endangering the welfare of children. This follows allegations of severe mistreatment of her 11-year-old son. According to the Lebanon Daily News, Candelario has a prior arrest from 2017 for endangering the welfare of children, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia possession in a separate case involving her children.

On January 11, 2025, the Lebanon County Regional Police Department responded to a distress call at 680 East Kercher Avenue. They found an 11-year-old boy restrained with handcuffs. An investigation revealed that Candelario had locked her son to an oil tank in the basement using restraints.

Police arrived at the residence while Candelario was at work and spoke with her children, who directed officers to a bedroom. There, they found the boy handcuffed to the railing of a top bunk bed. The child explained that he had initially been locked in the basement but managed to escape. However, while free, he accidentally handcuffed himself to the bed, according to LebTown.

Authorities contacted Candelario, who allegedly instructed them not to speak to her children until she returned home. Once there, she reportedly admitted that she had difficulty controlling her son while working and had resorted to confining him in a small utility room, measuring three feet by eight feet. She also admitted to handcuffing him to an oil tank or a post. The boy disclosed that these restraints would sometimes last up to two hours.

This is not the first time Candelario’s parenting methods have been called into question. In 2017, she was arrested alongside her then-partner, John Zayas, who was also charged with endangering the welfare of children, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia possession. Photos on Candelario’s Facebook page show her with Zayas and her children, including Halloween pictures from 2021 where her son is seen wearing fake handcuffs as part of his costume.

Candelario is currently being held at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, with her bail set at $100,000. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2025.