By RANDY BARTLEY
Staff writer
A Lucinda man and woman have been charged by state police with recklessly endangering the welfare of children following a home inspection.
Hunter James Stumpner, 28, and Megan Renee Stumpner, 26, of Lucinda were charged after police and Clarion County Children and Youth Services found three children living in “deplorable conditions in their residence.”
Each defendant is charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children by a parent or guardian, a third-degree felony.
According to court documents, on Feb.19, state police assisted CYS at a residence located along State Route 66 in Knox Township.
According to a criminal complaint, the police met Hunter Stumpner at the residence. Hunter Stumpner permitted the police to enter the residence. Megan Stumpner was not at home at that time.
Police allegedly found household debris scattered around the living room, including old food lying around the room and in the kitchen they found empty boxes and cabinets.
Stumpner allegedly told the police he was in the process of redoing the room. Police discovered part of the floor in the hallway to the rear of the residence was missing and soft.
There were several space heaters in the residence, and the temperature inside was 63 degrees.
The back bedroom had a curtain hanging on it with no heat inside. According to the complaint the bedroom was found to be “full of household debris to the point you could not walk into it.”
The second bedroom had a door closed with a piece of drywall blocking it and was also full of household debris to the point a person could not walk in it.
The middle bedroom had two child-sized beds in it. It is unknown where the two adults and third child sleep.
The bathroom allegedly had debris scattered around it with large spots of black mold on the ceiling and walls.
Stumpner allegedly told police the children “eat peanut butter sandwiches and soup.”
According to the complaint, CYS had removed the oldest known juvenile on Nov. 9, 2018, in January of 2018, and Nov. 2, 2016. The other two juveniles were removed on Nov. 2, 2016, and Nov. 9, 2018. Court records contend all of the removals were for home conditions.
The defendants were placed in the Clarion County Jail when they were unable to meet the $100,000 bail each.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today with District Judge Timothy Schill presiding.