Sunday, May 17, 2015

Child and 20 Dogs Removed from Home; 3 Adults Charged

WEST VIRGINIA -- Three adults have been arrested on child neglect charges after Milton Police say they found a 5-year-old boy and 20 dogs living in a mobile home in the 1400 block of John's Creek Road.

According to the criminal complaint, police said that when they entered the home, they had "trouble breathing due to the smell."

 
Police arrested Bethanna Renee Coyner, 27, the mother of the child, Justin J. Bernard, 25, and Tonia Renee Glenn, 53, who was the homeowner and had guardianship of the child, according to the criminal complaint.

Each is charged with one count of child neglect. Glenn also faces 20 counts of animal cruelty.
Bernard is also charged with fleeing, and Coyner is charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.

Police say the incident began when they saw Coyner and Glenn arguing along the road near the home. Officers say Glenn took off, but was tracked down by a police K-9.

Officers say as they got near the home they noticed a strong smell of animal feces. Coyner then gave them permission to search the living room of the trailer.

Child Protective Services was called to remove the child from the home.

The Huntington-Cabell Animal Control removed the 20 dogs after Glenn signed over custody of them. Officers also noted one of the dogs looked "extremely emaciated."

All three people are in the Western Regional Jail.

 
 

ORIGINAL STORY 5/14/15 @ 10:30 a.m.
MILTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Three people from Milton are facing child neglect charges after police say they found a child and more than a dozen dogs in deplorable conditions.

Bethanna Coyner, her boyfriend Justin Bernard, and the child were all living at Tonya Glenn's home in Milton on Johns Creek Road. Glenn is Coyner's mother.

Police say Coyner and Bernard were arguing outside their home, which caught the attention of a passing officer.

Police say when the officer approached them, Bernard took off, but he didn't make it far. Officers say they found pot on Coyner.

Once inside their home, police say they found conditions unfit for the child and 13 dogs living there.
All three are facing charges ranging from child neglect to animal cruelty.

"It's not like we beat our child," Coyner said as she was being taken to magistrate court Thursday night. "He was just in a house with a bunch of dogs."

Coyner is also charged with one count of misdemeanor possession.

(WSAZ - May 15, 2015)

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