Watch CBS News

Woman Testifies Against Boyfriend During Child Endangerment Hearing

WILKINSBURG (KDKA) -- A Wilkinsburg couple charged with endangering the welfare of children appeared in court today, where things got emotional during a preliminary hearing.

Lincoln Levys, 28, arrived at the magistrate's office in Wilkinsburg with a number of other prisoners from the Allegheny County Jail.

He was already in jail on unrelated drug charges before being charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Levys is accused of beating his girlfriend's children, ages 7 and 1, about the face and legs with a hose and allegedly dragged them up the stairs in their home.

The children's mother, 29-year-old Sheena Alston, testified against Levys at his preliminary hearing Thursday. Both are charged with endangering the welfare of children.

"I think that her failure to make contact with authorities reflects a mental health issue that… intimidation of some kind. I think she's testified that she was being threatened but Mr. Levys," said David DeFazio, Alston's attorney.

At one point, Levys yelled in the courtroom, telling Alston that the court was trying to break them up.

"There were moments in cross examination of Sheena Alston where her testimony didn't seem particularly credible and that will be explored and expanded later on in this case," Martell Harris, Levy's attorney. "He maintains his innocence on these charges, and he got emotional, absolutely."

Levys and Alston's 5-week-old child, a girl, died in October.

Doctors at Children's Hospital wrote: "The amount of violence directed at this child, at just weeks of life, is difficult to conceive."

The infant had scratches and abrasions on her face, torso and neck and both of her legs were broken.

That case will not be heard until next year.

You May Also Be Interested In These Latest News Stories

Wilkinsburg Couple Charged In 5-Week-Old Daughter's Death (10/24/14)
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.