TALLMANSVILLE — An Upshur County couple faces child neglect charges after three juveniles were allegedly found living among garbage, decaying food, dog feces and open beer cans and bottles while the couple was at a camp.

Crystal Tenney, 40, and Joseph Tenney, 42, are both charged with child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury, a felony. Crystal and Joseph were both being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on separate $20,000 property/surety bonds that have since been posted.

According to the criminal complaints, filed by Cpl. T. R. Collins with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Aug. 5, officers executed a search warrant on a residence on Kelley Ridge Road. During the search, deputies located a young adult and a juvenile inside the residence. The young adult told officers that their parents “were at their camp and had been there since yesterday morning.”

After the young adult and the juvenile were removed, deputies observed multiple bags of household garbage, food in various stages of decay, fresh and old dog feces, multiple open beer boxes, and numerous empty beer cans and bottles, the complaint states. One room in the residence had “moldy dog feces” and an “overwhelming musty smell.” There were also various animal cages containing feces.

In the juvenile’s bedroom, deputies also observed household garbage, empty beer bottles, animal feces, and “what appeared to be mouse feces” in the nightstand, the complaint states. The basement also had multiple bags of household garbage and numerous empty beer boxes.

Collins writes that, after searching every room in the house, deputies concluded that every room either contained animal feces, bags of household garbage, empty beer boxes, empty beer cans or “all of the above.” Collins added that the stench of feces, rotting food and mold was “extremely overwhelming” and deputies had to step outside to gain access to fresh air.

Two other juveniles were located across the road at a releative’s residence, the complaint states. Upon speaking with the relative, the deputies concluded that the two juveniles spend a majority of their time at the relative’s residence.

According to the complaint, Crystal and Joseph Tenney later arrived at the relative’s residence and stated that they had just come from their camp. Collins spoke with Crystal Tenney first, who stated that their residence was not suitable for children to live there. Crystal Tenney also told Collins that she was working three jobs and “did not have the means of transportation to haul away the garbage.”

Collins then spoke with Joseph Tenney, who stated that he did not live in the residence and worked night shifts for seven days and is off for seven days, the complaint states. Joseph agreed that he “had care and custody” of the children along with Crystal Tenney.

Both Joseph Tenney and Crystal Tenney told Collins that the children are in their care and custody, but the children are left in the care of their young adult sibling and another relative, the complaint states. When the children are in the care of their older sibling and the relative, both Joseph Tenney and Crystal Tenney are “either working or at the… camp.”

Collins writes that after placing both Crystal and Joseph Tenney under arrest, the couple requested to tell their children goodbye, the complaint states. Collins adds that, as Crystal Tenney hugged the youngest child, she stated that, “This is why I said we were really trying to work on the house.” Crystal Tenney then turned and said to Collins, “That was our plan this evening.”

According to the complaint, the juvenile children are in CPS custody.