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Prison sentence ordered for endangerment

A Williamsport man who kept his young son locked in the room of a city residence was recently sentenced to Lycoming County Prison.

In addition to a jail term of six to 23 1/2 months for charges which include endangering the welfare of children, Donald D. Kiper Jr. was ordered to perform 75 hours of community service and undergo a mental health assessment.

An investigation was launched by Lycoming County Child Protection after a rental inspection visit to the home by city codes enforcement officer Dean Severson Sept. 27, 2017.

When Severson arrived, he found Kiper’s wife, Nicole Engler-Harper, 40, fumbling with a padlock on a bedroom door, according to an affidavit.

Upon entering, he discovered a barren room with a “filthy” mattress, holes in the walls with peeling paint and plaster, and a young boy in his underwear.

He found a 3-year-old boy in another room, which he described as cluttered.

A county caseworker who later went to the residence found the padlocks to rooms had been removed, according to the affidavit. In addition, the strong aroma of urine was detected.

The couple were given a day to make the home liveable, but a follow-up visit determined that no improvements were made. Both boys were immediately removed from the home and placed in foster care.

Further investigation revealed that the older boy, age 5, had been struck by his stepmother, Engler-Harper, officials alleged.

Kiper admitted to having locked the older boy in his room on multiple occasions and boarding the windows.

He explained he did so to keep him from hanging out or leaving through a second floor window and to prevent him from obtaining dangerous items such as razor blades in the house.

Engler-Harper faces trial.

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