The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A dad who was reportedly unable to keep the home he shared with his children in a habitable condition was jailed after the authorities asserted that it was an unsafe environment for them.
According to reports, last September, a father of three children, ages 10, 11 and 14, was visited by proactive patrol officers. After looking through the window of the Sarasota home, they believed it appeared to be unclean and neglected. The man allowed them to come inside, and the officers reported that they found garbage littered throughout the residence, and roaches were visible. They additionally noted that the beds the children slept in were dirty. When the kitchen was inspected, the police allegedly saw more alcohol than food. When the man talked to the officers about the situation and informed them that his kids hadn’t been to school in two years.
The authorities found resources in the community to help the man, and they reported that they were able to find house furnishings and fresh food to assist the family. They also helped the man to get the children enrolled in school, but at the beginning of November, they were notified that the youngsters had not been attending. When they returned to the home to find out what was going on, officers reported that the residence was still filthy and smelled like mold. The children were reportedly asleep instead of at school.