Court of Appeals throws out Sheldon child endangerment charge

The Iowa Court of Appeals has thrown out a northwest Iowa woman’s conviction on child endangerment charges. Debra Dunham moved to Sheldon, Iowa from Colorado to stay with her uncle and his wife and she brought her stepsons — 11 year-old twins. The two had behavior problems and Dunham and the boy’s father — her husband — had sought treatment and counseling in Colorado. In August of 2000, the boys broke windows and punched out a wall. The cops were called; the D-H-S was called. Investigators found the boys sleeping in cold, drafty rooms with just a mattress, pillow and sleeping bag. The boys were placed in foster care and a jury convicted Dunham on two counts of child endangerment. The Court of Appeals, though, has ruled there’s substantial evidence Dunham’s treatment of the boys was consistent with the advice she’s gotten from counselors in Colorado, and her conviction was tossed out.