West Valley mom did nothing to stop her kids from being abused, charges say

WEST VALLEY CITY — A mother who prosecutors say "would not do anything to protect her children" while they were being abused by her boyfriend is now facing criminal charges herself.

Candace Marie Greenlee, 39, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with four counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony, and five counts of child abuse, a class A misdemeanor.

The investigation began June 26 when a boy, under the age of 10, ran out of his home wearing only a pink nightgown and no shoes and went to a neighbor's house for help. The boy told neighbors that Danny Adam Hancock, 46, of West Valley City, was hurting them, according to charging documents.

When child victim advocates later talked to the boy, he told them that Hancock treats him and his sister "bad" and that on the night he fled his home, "Hancock told him, 'If you are going to cry like a little baby then you are going to dress like one,'" according to the charges.

The boy went on to describe other forms of abuse, such as Hancock holding his hands over his nose and mouth when he cries so he couldn't breathe, the charges state, and being forced to stand against a refrigerator for several minutes with his hands in the air.

"While in this position, Hancock would walk by (the boy and his sister). and knee them in the side, slap them and punch them," the charges state. Hancock would also "hold a flame from a lighter to (the boy's) nose, lips, chin, stomach, and toes, while yelling at (him) to 'shut … up.'"

He was charged in July in 3rd District Court with with three counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.

According to charges filed Thursday against Greenlee, she knew about the abuse, but did nothing to stop it.

She "admitted to being scared to leave Hancock due to the possibility of homelessness and that is why she stays with Hancock. Greenlee admitted that (her children) are forced to stand with their noses on the wall with their arms up for several minutes at a time and the time increases when they cry or move," the charges state. "When asked if she knew what was going on to cause so many injuries, Greenlee shook her head 'yes.'"

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