KINGWOOD — A Tunnelton couple pleaded guilty to felony child neglect creating risk of injury Monday.
Joseph Anthony and Brandy Lynn Velone accepted a plea agreement that would dismiss four other charges.
The penalty for the felony charge is one to five years in prison and/or a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000.
Assistant Prosecutor Megan Allender told the court the plea agreement was in the best interest for the couple’s children and was offered so they wouldn’t have to testify against their parents. The children were removed from the home by Child Protective Services through an emergency order.
Charges were brought against the couple after CPS workers and Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. T.E. Mitter visited the home.
“They found the house in extreme disrepair,” Allender said. “It was 31 degrees outside, and there was no heat or running water. There was so much trash on the floor the children couldn’t get to their beds. The trash included old food and used toilet paper.”
Allender said Brandy Velone was huddled in a corner shivering and the children were not dressed for the weather.
Brandy Velone told the court there was water in the home.
“When they came, I was trying to get a fire started. They wouldn’t let me start the fire,” she said. “There was no trash in my kids’ room, so they couldn’t get to their beds.”
When Velone questioned why she was unable to have visitation, her attorney, Sally Collins, told the court, “I’m trying to get her to separate out. This is the court case, not the other case.”
Joseph Velone also said there was running water in the home. However, he added he had not been on the premises for two days.
“He wasn’t at home, but he was aware of the other conditions of the home,” Velone’s attorney James Shay said.
Judge Steven Shaffer ordered pre-sentencing investigations on the couple. He also ordered drug testing in both cases and they were ordered to register as child abuse and neglect offenders. A hearing is set for 3 p.m. Sept. 16 for Brandy Velone and at 4 p.m. for Joseph Velone.
