Three arrested on child abuse charges in Newberry Township

NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA — Three people were arrested following a two-year investigation into allegations of child abuse and neglect, police said Tuesday.

Ashley Cardona, 29, of Newberry Township, Lori Cardona, 51, of Newberry Township, and Michael Cardona, 27, of Newberry Township, were taken into custody.

Ashley Cardona and Lori Cardona have each been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy.

Michael Cardona has been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unlawful restraint, criminal conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of children.

All three defendants were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Spadaccino.

The investigation began in March 2024 and involved three child victims, ages 5, 6 and 10.

The victims sustained substantial physical and mental harm, police said.

A physician and member of the Child Protective Team at Penn State Health determined that the totality of the circumstances in this case meet the definition of child torture.

District Attorney Tim Barker and Lt. Braxton Ditty outlined the details of the case during a media conference Tuesday afternoon.

The arrest was the result of investigative efforts by Newberry Township Police detectives in collaboration with York County’s multidisciplinary investigative team, which specializes in sensitive and complex cases involving children.

All children involved have been removed from the residence and are currently in alternative living arrangements.