Charles Shamblin -- Source: West Virginia Regional Jail AuthorityThe daughter-in-law of a Kanawha County man who has been charged with fathering three of his grandchildren says the community looked the other way rather than take action.
Charles Shamblin was charged with incest, sexual assault and sexual abuse after DNA testing indicated that he fathered the three grandchildren, according to court officials.
"The community up there looked the other way," said Shamblin's daughter-in-law, who asked to not be identified. "They knew what was going on. They've seen the bruises, they've seen the marks on the children and on their mother and they looked the other direction.
A major reason people kept quiet was because Shamblin told them to, she said.
"He said it's in the past," she said. "It's nobody's business. It was between us. Leave it alone, leave it there."
Despite Shamblin's pleas not to talk, nearly 20 years ago, the family says they went to police. His daughter in law said the Shamblin's daughter at the center of this whole case said nothing ever happened.
"She completely denied it," the daughter-in-law said. "The state, the prosecuting attorney and the deputy said that they couldn't' do nothing [sic]."
At that time, there was no such thing as DNA evidence.
Shamblin is being house at the South Central Regional Jail on $100,000 bond.
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