The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A 22-year-old mother was arrested after the authorities responded to a report alleging physical abuse against her by a romantic partner, possible drug use, and unsafe living conditions in the home where her two children reside.
On May 20, a deputy visited the residence and reported a strong odor of garbage outside, as well as odors of urine and feces inside the house. The deputy noted that there was trash, dead bugs, and feces throughout the home. The plumbing was not working, and the kitchen sink contained dead roaches and mold. When talking to the woman about the situation, she reportedly denied using drugs and being abused, and her drug test came back negative. She also claimed the condition of the house got worse when she was recently in the hospital for a bacterial infection. She reportedly said the odors came from several pets going to the bathroom in the home without it being cleaned up. She added that one of her roommates also gets drunk and pees on the walls.
The Florida Department of Children and Families noted that the children were living in filth, and the home smelled strongly of ammonia. It was also reported that the kids were dirty. The deputy at the residence noted that the 3-year-old girl had dirty fingernails, bug bites, scratches reportedly caused by the family cat, and was playing on the floor near roaches and feces.
DCF took temporary custody of both children, informing the mother that she could regain custody if the home was cleaned or if she found a new place to live with them. The authorities reported that she failed to do so, and she was arrested on a warrant on May 28.
The woman was taken into custody and booked into the Indian River County Jail on a $50,000 bond. She is facing preliminary charges of suspicion of two counts of child neglect.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.