Parents plead to misdemeanor for ‘filthy’ living conditions

Published 11:02 am Thursday, February 21, 2019

A Winchester couple could serve no jail time for allegedly leaving their home and their child’s room infested with insects and covered in filth.

Wednesday, Jason and Melissa Baker, of 9 Sylvania Ave., pleaded guilty to misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a minor in Clark District Court, as part of an agreement.

The Bakers were arrested in December 2018 after a Winchester Police officer discovered the condition of the home while attempting to serve a warrant.

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According to court documents, the officer was unable to check all the rooms in the house because of the amount of “filth and feces” inside.

Patrolman Terry Cockrell wrote it appeared there were no clothes or bedding in the child’s room. There was trash throughout the house, including feces from four cats and a dog. There were insects crawling along the floor and walls. The kitchen sink contained dirty dishes and moldy water.

The Bakers said they have a 12-year-old child but he was in Louisville that day.

The Bakers were sentenced to 360 days in jail, but 355 of those days were conditionally discharged provided they follow all terms of the care plan as developed by social workers. Prosecutors will review the situation in six months.

The Bakers previously served five days in jail following their arrest.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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