A Washington County woman faces nine additional charges stemming from alleged child abuse, two months after prosecutors brought 11 charges against her for allegedly chaining a child inside her home, often for more than 12 hours a day.
Ana Miranda was arrested April 27 for allegedly chaining up a child as punishment for taking food and drinks from the kitchen. The abuse included being hit, kicked, strangled and called slurs and lasted for nearly a year, authorities alleged in a statement in May. Her husband, Charles “Randy” Ward, was also arrested.
Since then, a child advocacy group has interviewed more children in Miranda’s care, finding alleged abuse by Miranda against two additional children, the sheriff’s office said Monday.
A grand jury indicted Miranda last week on five first-degree criminal mistreatment charges and four charges of witness tampering. She has pleaded not guilty to all.
Miranda, 67, and Ward, 74, were originally arrested after a raid of their home in unincorporated Tigard, where the husband and wife were living with nine children and two young adults, according to the sheriff’s office.
Miranda was indicted in May on eight first-degree criminal mistreatment charges and strangulation. Ward was indicted on four counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.
Washington County sheriff’s Sgt. Danny DiPietro said at the time that the children in the home weren’t placed there by the foster care system but declined to release further details, citing privacy concerns.
