Cops: Kids Found in 'Squalid' Conditions

A Jamestown couple is facing charges after their children were found locked in a room in squalid conditions Thursday afternoon.

Police say the 1-year-old, 2-year-old and 4-year-old were found in a room with feces, food and dirty clothes scattered over the floor. They say the room was padlocked on the outside and they could smell marijuana in the apartment. Officers also found marijuana paraphernalia and residue.

Chautauqua County probation officers were conducting a visit at apartment 21-year-old Amanda Jackson when they discovered the children. Jackson and 40-year-old Joseph Tucker are the parents.

Police say there also was a large hole in the floor that children could step into, and an electrical breaker box with wires exposed that were within reach of the children.

Tucker was charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and felony criminal contempt for violating the two orders of protection.
Jackson was charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal contempt for violating a court order of protection to stay away from Tucker.

Tucker and Jackson are in police custody. Child protective services made arrangements for the care of the children.