Virginia Mother Pleads Guilty to Brutal Assault on 10-Year-Old Son

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Fort Belvoir woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges for a brutal assault on her 10-year-old son, who escaped by climbing out a window and jumping from the roof, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

China Ashley Charles, 38, admitted to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault by striking, beating, and wounding, and cruelty to children. The charges stem from an Oct. 8, 2024, incident where Charles attacked her son after becoming enraged over his messy bedroom, court documents revealed.

Prosecutors said Charles struck the boy with a chair, dresser drawers, a hot iron, a charging wire, a hairbrush, and a large serving spoon. “She attempted to strike his face with the iron, but he blocked it with his hands,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated. The boy sustained a cut finger from the charging wire, which began bleeding.

Charles allegedly tried to conceal the injuries by forcing the child to sit in a cold bath and splashing water on his face. The boy eventually escaped by dropping from his second-floor bedroom onto the roof and then jumping to the ground. He was found by police with significant injuries, including bruises, abrasions, a knot on the back of his head, and a bleeding finger. He was transported to Fort Belvoir Community Hospital for treatment.

Law enforcement recovered multiple items from Charles’ home, including the iron, chair, hairbrush, spoon, and dresser drawers, some of which had bloodstains. A sweater and shirt with “I’M ON PUNISHMENT” written on them in black marker were also found. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of the child’s blood on the iron and at least one dresser drawer.

The boy’s sister told authorities that Charles had been physically abusing him for the past four years. Charles is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9 and faces up to 16 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent Jake Cameron of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division announced the plea after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted it.