DARLINGTON - A Monroe couple face charges in Lafayette County Circuit Court of keeping their two toddlers in filthy conditions while the family was living in Darlington last fall.
Adam D. Bliss, 33, and Nicole C. Bliss, 23, are each charged with two Class H felony counts of neglecting a child. Adam Bliss also faces a Class B misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. If convicted, the parents could each face 12 years imprisonment, $20,000 in fines, or both.
The charges stem from an incident Nov. 3 that started when a child abuse and neglect investigator requested that police accompany her on a visit to the Bliss residence in the 400 block of Keep Street in Darlington. Court records indicate it is a single family dwelling occupied by nine people, with the Bliss family living upstairs and another family living downstairs.
When police arrived, a housemate from the other family allegedly complained about the squalid condition of the upstairs. He told police the Bliss children do not get regular diaper changes and often go long stretches without eating.
When police and the human services investigator went upstairs, they reported observing uninhabitable rooms and human feces smeared across a window. The Bliss family was ordered to bring the upstairs living quarters up to code within 10 days.
Adam Bliss was reportedly uncooperative throughout the home visit, yelling and swearing at police.
Human services returned later in the day and took custody of the Bliss children, ages 1 and 3, according to police reports.
Charges were filed and the parents were released on $2,000 signature bonds in March. On Wednesday, the court scheduled a status conferences in the child neglect cases for July 22.
In another case, Adam Bliss also faces a Class A misdemeanor count of fraud for allegedly using a housemate's debit card to purchase items on Amazon valued at $522. He has a scheduling conference for that case July 22.
Adam D. Bliss, 33, and Nicole C. Bliss, 23, are each charged with two Class H felony counts of neglecting a child. Adam Bliss also faces a Class B misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. If convicted, the parents could each face 12 years imprisonment, $20,000 in fines, or both.
The charges stem from an incident Nov. 3 that started when a child abuse and neglect investigator requested that police accompany her on a visit to the Bliss residence in the 400 block of Keep Street in Darlington. Court records indicate it is a single family dwelling occupied by nine people, with the Bliss family living upstairs and another family living downstairs.
When police arrived, a housemate from the other family allegedly complained about the squalid condition of the upstairs. He told police the Bliss children do not get regular diaper changes and often go long stretches without eating.
When police and the human services investigator went upstairs, they reported observing uninhabitable rooms and human feces smeared across a window. The Bliss family was ordered to bring the upstairs living quarters up to code within 10 days.
Adam Bliss was reportedly uncooperative throughout the home visit, yelling and swearing at police.
Human services returned later in the day and took custody of the Bliss children, ages 1 and 3, according to police reports.
Charges were filed and the parents were released on $2,000 signature bonds in March. On Wednesday, the court scheduled a status conferences in the child neglect cases for July 22.
In another case, Adam Bliss also faces a Class A misdemeanor count of fraud for allegedly using a housemate's debit card to purchase items on Amazon valued at $522. He has a scheduling conference for that case July 22.