Trooper J.R. Garrett of the Sutton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police has arrested three Kanawha Run Road residents on charges involving child neglect.
Trooper Garrett was alerted by Braxton 9-1-1 on September 7 at 6:40 p.m. that a motorist traveling on Route 15 towards Kanawha Run Road had nearly struck several small children in the middle of the roadway. Upon arrival, the Trooper and Sheriff’s Deputy L. Cochran contacted the father of the children that were identified as being 7 years old and younger. He told the officers that he and his wife had left the children in the care of a third individual while they worked down the road.
Upon contacting that third person, officers identified that she was handicapped. Their investigation also uncovered what they termed as several unsafe conditions in the home including an electrical box with no cover, tools and other sharp objects in reach of the children. They also observed that the house had no running water and the children appeared not to be bathed.
The Trooper contacted Child Protective Service who took the children into emergency custody.
The three individuals were arrested on four charges of Child Neglect creating risk of injury. The parents were identified as Dennis W. Knight, 43, Katelynn Fame Knight, 21, and Michelle D. Akers, 50. All three were arraigned before Braxton County Magistrate David Singleton where their bond was set at $ 10,000 each. All three were taken to the Central Regional Jail. Dennis and Katelynn Knight both posted bond and were released. Akers remained incarcerated at press-time.
If convicted, the trio face fines of up to $3,000 and prison time of up to five years on each of the four felony charges.