Records: 4-year-old in flea-infested home not potty-trained, sleeping on floor
Bethany Bruner
NEWARK - Court records describe deplorable living conditions for a 4-year-old child living in a flea infested home at Buckeye Lake. They also note that the child slept on the floor and was not yet potty-trained.
Bond was set at $50,000 each on Tuesday for the parents accused of allowing their 4-year-old child to live in the home.
Howard McNemar, 48, and Toni Lichwa, 38, both appeared in Licking County Common Pleas Court Tuesday afternoon for bond hearings on third-degree felony charges of endangering children.
According to court records, McNemar and Lichwa are accused of living in a flea-infested home on the 4700 block of Walnut Road in Buckeye Lake. The couple's 4-year-old child and 60 animals were living in the home as of Aug. 24.
Court records said the child had visible fleas on their scalp and bites all over their legs and exposed skin.
"Police officers observed fleas jumping out of the minor's hair," according to court records.
The home reportedly smelled of ammonia and urine and was "covered in feces and urine and not suitable for human habitation."
More than 40 cats, 13 dogs and three ferrets were seized from the residence and taken in by the Licking County Humane Society for care.
More:Humane Society rescues nearly 60 animals from Buckeye Lake home
Executive Director Lori Carlson said most of the animals were underweight and had open wounds, likely from scratching at fleas.
Some of the animals have already been made available for adoption while others are continuing to receive medical attention and care.
The child was also removed from the home and has been placed with a relative, according to court records obtained by The Advocate.
Records from the emergency custody hearing, which took place Thursday afternoon in Licking County Juvenile Court, indicate the child had been sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor, was not potty-trained and could not name colors or recite the alphabet.
Those records also indicate Lichwa and McNemar had surrendered 18 dogs to the Fairfield County Humane Society two weeks before nearly 60 animals were rescued from their home.
Carlson said cats that were rescued are available to adopt for $25. The adoption fee covers the cost of spay/neuter.
The Licking County Humane Agent also searched a trailer Monday located next door to the one Lichwa and McNemar had been living. The couple had reportedly lived there several weeks ago. No additional animals were found inside that trailer, but two cats were found living underneath the home.
Carlson said some Buckeye Lake area residents have reached out to the Humane Society believing their pets may have been taken in by Lichwa or McNemar, however, none of those ideas have panned out to date.
The Humane Society is willing to work with anyone who has documentation to prove a pet is theirs and reunite them.
Both Lichwa and McNemar have a history of involvement with Licking County Children Services and of non-cooperation, records show. Social workers also had concerns about possible substance abuse.
During bond hearings Tuesday, neither Lichwa or McNemar made any statements about the case and Magistrate Mattie Klein ordered bond set at $50,000 each.
As a condition of their bond, neither parent is allowed to have contact with their child unless ordered by the Court or Children Services.
The cases against Lichwa and McNemar will be reviewed by a grand jury in the coming weeks for potential indictment and additional charges, including possible felony charges of animal cruelty.
If charged, it would be the first time felony animal cruelty charges have been filed in Licking County. A change in Ohio's law now allows for animal abuse to be charged as a felony.