OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – An Oil City woman was charged with felony child endangerment after seven children were removed from her care due to poor living conditions.
Court documents indicate the Oil City Police Department filed criminal charges against 26-year-old Shannon Irene Whitedove Defreese, of Oil City, on September 30.
According to a criminal complaint, around 4:23 p.m. on August 26, Oil City Police were dispatched to a residence on Washington Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance in progress.
The complaint states that during the course of the investigation, the house was found to be in a condition that was not suitable for living. The house’s condition was then determined to be such that Oil City Code Enforcement condemned it, and for Venango County Children and Youth Services (CYS) also determined the house was not suitable for children.
At the time of the incident, seven minor children were residing at the house, the youngest of which were 18-month-old twins, the complaint states.
On September 4, Oil City Code Enforcement found the house to be in a better condition and removed the condemned status from it, according to the complaint.
Oil City Police were dispatched to the same residence against around 3:43 p.m. on September 30 due to a report that the residence was again in a condition not suitable for children.
CYS also responded to the scene and then took custody of the seven children, according to the complaint.
The complaint states Shannon Defreese failed to provide for her duty to care for the children by leaving the house in the condition “not suitable for living, including having soiled diapers, human feces, a deceased animal, and items placed to the point it was difficult to enter or exit the house.”
Defreese was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 9:40 p.m. on September 30, on the following charge:
– Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
She remains free on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on October 7, in Venango County Central Court.
