Witness Admits Lying in Sodus Murder Trial

Attorney weighs new trial request after Charlene Childers acknowledged giving false testimony against Timothy Dean.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stone courthouse facade with a single unflagged flagpole under a grey sky, evoking institutional weight in a criminal case. — Timothy Dean's murder conviction stands after prosecution witness Charlene Childers admitted lying under oath, and his attorney weighs seeking a new trial. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Timothy Dean's first-degree murder conviction in the 2018 Sodus killings of Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn remains intact, and no retrial has been granted. Charlene Childers, who testified against Dean under a plea agreement, acknowledged lying under oath during his 2019 prosecution.

Why it matters

The admission raises questions about the reliability of testimony that helped secure a life sentence and could affect whether the conviction is challenged in court. It also bears on the cooperation agreement Childers received for her own role in the killings.

Dean's conviction stands after the Appellate Division upheld it in June 2025, and Childers is seeking resentencing under New York's Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. The Wayne County District Attorney is examining whether Childers violated her cooperation agreement.

The players

Timothy Dean

Dean was convicted in 2019 of the first-degree murder of Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn and sentenced to life in prison.

Charlene Childers

Childers testified against Dean under a plea agreement covering her own involvement in the killings and is now seeking a reduction of her 28-year sentence.

Christine Callanan

Callanan is the Wayne County District Attorney who questioned Childers and is examining whether she could face perjury charges.

Joe Damelio

Damelio is the attorney weighing a new trial request for Dean following Childers' admission.

The details

Childers acknowledged giving false testimony while questioned by Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan. Attorney Joe Damelio said obtaining transcripts of her recent testimony would be an important step before pursuing a motion to vacate the conviction, a challenge that would require a court ruling.

October 22, 2018: Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn are shot and killed outside their Sodus home.
2019: Dean is convicted and sentenced to life; Childers testifies against him.
June 2025: The Appellate Division upholds Dean's first-degree murder conviction.
October 2026: Childers acknowledges giving false testimony at a hearing.

Legal Context

Childers is seeking resentencing under New York's Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, which allows courts to revisit sentences for survivors of abuse. Her case tests how that statute applies to a cooperating witness whose testimony is now in doubt.

Residents of Sodus and Wayne County may see the case reopened if the court grants a motion to vacate. The outcome could affect how cooperation agreements are used in local prosecutions.

The takeaway

Testimony obtained through plea agreements can be undermined when a witness later recants, which is why transcripts and court rulings matter. Readers following the case should watch for any motion filed by Dean's attorney.