CANTON ‒ Three family members are accused of asking a 7-year-old not to tell the truth about being sexually assaulted by her uncle so he wouldn't get in trouble, a criminal complaint says.

The family members — the girl's grandparents and aunt who live in Canton — pleaded not guilty Oct. 9 in Canton Municipal Court to charges of intimidating a crime victim, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Criminal charges filed by the Stark County Sheriff's Office say the grandparents, who are 47 and 46 years old, instructed the girl to lie about what happened involving their son, telling her that "her uncle would get in trouble."

The 19-year-old aunt instructed the girl to lie about what happened involving the aunt's brother, the complaint says. The complaint also says the aunt attempted to intimidate her

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