CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake Police officer arrested the parents of three children found unattended and in unsanitary conditions at their home last week.
Crystal Marie Dexter, 31, and Jay Allen Batcheldor, 40, both of Clearlake, were taken into custody on charges of felony child cruelty and neglect on Friday, Nov. 2, according to a report from Sgt. Dominic Ramirez.
At approximately 3:48 p.m. that day Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to 14201 Uhl Ave. for a report of juveniles left alone, Ramirez said.
He said the reporting party discovered the children – ages 12, 5 and 2 – alone in the residence with no supervision and the whereabouts of the parents were unknown. When the reporting party could not locate the parents she contacted law enforcement.
Officer Bradlee Middleton arrived at the residence to conduct the investigation and check the welfare of the children, Ramirez said.
Middleton went into the residence and located a 5-year-old male child lying on the living room floor. Ramirez said the child suffers from a medical condition that does not allow him to care for himself in any manner.
The little boy had a soiled diaper and was lying in his own vomit, unable to move due to his medical condition, Ramirez said.
Also located in the residence was the eldest child, age 12, who has a developmental disability, and a 2-year-old female who was ill with the flu. Ramirez said officers saw the residence was unsanitary with animal feces and urine on the floor and the odor of the same throughout the residence.
During the investigation, Dexter and Batcheldor arrived at the residence and were identified as the parents of the children, Ramirez said.
The investigation revealed the children had been left alone at the residence for approximately two hours while the parents were at an appointment. Ramirez said it was apparent the 12 year old developmentally disabled child was left to care for the two younger children while they were at the appointment.
As a result of the investigation, Middleton arrested both Batcheldor and Dexter for felony child cruelty and neglect, Ramirez said.
Dexter and Batcheldor were booked into the Lake County Jail, with bail for each set at $75,000. Both remained in custody on Monday, according to jail records.
All three children were taken into protective custody and turned over to Lake County Child Protective Services, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the child neglect case is still under investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Officer Middleton at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.