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Woman facing felony child neglect charge

Douglas

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KERENS — A Randolph County woman faces a child neglect charge after three children were allegedly found in what police describe as a “contaminated residence.”

Vidilia Dawn Douglas, 28, is charged with one count of child neglect creating risk of injury, a felony. Douglas was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond that has since been posted.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Cpl. A.B. Beverly with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on March 19, Beverly responded to a residence on Pheasant Mountain Road due to a call regarding “suspicious activity.” He had been advised that an individual in Tucker County had reported that Douglas was “at that location and was concerned.”

Beverly had previously spoken with Douglas on March 14, the complaint states. Douglas had allegedly advised Beverly that she was concerned for her boyfriend’s mental health and that her boyfriend was reportedly using meth again. She told Beverly that her boyfriend had access to a .22 caliber firearm, which he allegedly was not allowed to possess due to a previous felony, and Douglas reportedly stated that she was concerned that her boyfriend would harm himself.

Douglas allegedly was adamant that, because of his abusive behavior in the past, she did not have contact with her boyfriend as she could potentially lose her children, the complaint states. She told Beverly that she was residing with her father in Barbour County while her boyfriend lived on Pheasant Mountain Road in Randolph County. Beverly informed Douglas of the mental hygiene process and was provided contact information to initiate such a check.

On March 19, when Beverly arrived at the residence on Pheasant Mountain Road, he reportedly observed three children inside “amongst hazardous conditions which created a substantial risk of bodily harm,” the complaint states. Beverly allegedly observed one child pick up a large piece of broken glass from the floor while in Douglas’ presence.

According to the complaint, feces was present on the floor throughout the home. Beverly allegedly observed a toilet that contained no water and was full of feces. When asked where the children used the bathroom, Douglas allegedly said the children use that toilet without running water. Multiple rooms in the residence were reportedly “inaccessible” due to being full of trash. Photos of the residence were taken at the scene.

Douglas allegedly acknowledged “on multiple occasions” that she was aware the home was not safe for her children, the complaint states. Douglas also reportedly knew that her boyfriend was residing in the home while she had previously expressed “a high level” of concern that he was potentially dangerous to himself or others.

“Despite these circumstances, (Douglas) intentionally transported her children to the contaminated residence,” Beverly wrote in the complaint.

Douglas allegedly told Beverly that she does visit the residence regularly without her children and was aware of the condition the home was in, the complaint states. Douglas claimed that the children were only at the residence that day and did not live there.

Douglas also reportedly told Beverly that, when her boyfriend returned to the residence that day, he was upset and threw his cellphone, causing the screen to become damaged, the complaint states. Beverly observed a cellphone on the floor “amongst the filth.”

According to the complaint, the three children were transported from the residence by a relative. Douglas allegedly told police that Child Protective Service has been called on her “on multiple occasions by multiple parties,” including her children’s school, the complaint states. She advised that she had full custody of the children.

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