Childers Seeks Reduced Sentence in Murder Case
A former accomplice in two 2018 Wayne County murders is asking a judge to cut her 28-year sentence under New York's domestic violence law.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Charlene Childers, serving 28 years for her role in the 2018 murders of Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn, has requested a reduced sentence under New York's Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. Childers admitted she lied under oath during the 2019 murder trial of Timothy Dean, and Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan's office is investigating whether she could face perjury charges.
Why it matters
The request tests how New York's domestic violence sentencing provision applies to a defendant who argues abuse shaped her role in serious crimes. Childers' admission of perjury also raises questions about the reliability of testimony in the earlier trial.
Childers is serving 28 years and faces a possible 40-year term if found to have violated her plea agreement. Judge Arthur Williams has until the end of the year to rule on the resentencing request, and perjury charges remain under consideration.
The players
Charlene Childers
Childers is a former accomplice serving a 28-year sentence who is seeking resentencing under New York's Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act.
Christine Callanan
Callanan is the Wayne County District Attorney whose office is investigating possible perjury charges against Childers.
Arthur Williams
Williams is the judge presiding over the resentencing request and has until the end of the year to issue a decision.
The details
Childers testified during the hearing that she was instructed to lie at Timothy Dean's 2019 trial by her former attorney, Rome Canzano, and by Callanan. Canzano was called to testify, and Callanan challenged the evidence a psychologist used in evaluating Childers, who argues abuse played a significant role in her crimes.
Timeline
2018: Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn were murdered in Sodus, New York.
2019: Childers lied under oath at Timothy Dean's murder trial.
End of 2026: Judge Arthur Williams is expected to decide the resentencing request.
Legal Context
The Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act allows New York courts to reconsider sentences for survivors of abuse whose conduct was linked to that abuse. Childers' request tests how that provision applies when the defendant was an accomplice in two murders.
The outcome could affect whether Childers' sentence is shortened and whether perjury charges are filed, both of which bear on public confidence in the Wayne County court process. Residents following the case can track the judge's decision and any charging announcement from the district attorney's office.
The takeaway
The case shows how survivor-based sentencing provisions can intersect with serious crimes and sworn testimony. Its resolution will clarify both the reach of New York's domestic violence law and how courts handle admitted perjury.
What happens next
Judge Arthur Williams is expected to rule on the resentencing request by the end of the year.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Criminal Justice reporting on sentencing and court proceedings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHAM.
