A couple from Grand Island, raising four children in a dirty, bug-ridden house, has been found guilty after their charges were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors.
Authorities took Daniel Fontaine, 35, and Amanda Wolfe, 32, into custody in October 2023 after discovering four children who appeared unclean and visibly dirty. Authorities reported that the children in the residence exhibited sores, bug bites, and diaper rashes, which were probably due to unclean living conditions.
Authorities reported that the children were residing in environments that posed risks to their physical and mental well-being.
Fontaine faces four felony charges for intentional child abuse, as well as two misdemeanor charges for obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest.
Wolfe was also charged with four counts of felony intentional child abuse.
Charges against both individuals have been reduced to four misdemeanor offenses each, according to court records. On Thursday, both entered no-contest pleas and were found guilty. Sentencing is set for January 29, 2025.
The four children involved were aged 3, 2, 1, and a three-month-old baby.
Court records reveal that officers noted the baby appeared smaller than expected for its age. The infant’s weight was nine pounds upon arrival at the hospital.
The arrest warrant details that the refrigerator and freezer contained decaying food with insects present, human and animal waste was found on the bathroom floor, and there were cockroaches along with a significant amount of trash accumulated.
During a previous court hearing, a judge pointed out that the couple were supposed to be working with DHHS for the last year to deal with unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, but failed to do so and things got worse.
A conviction for misdemeanor child abuse can lead to a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of $1,000.