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BY FRED PETKE

Sun Reporter

Three people are facing criminal abuse charges after keeping children in a home with exposed electrical wiring and an open sewer pit in the back yard.

Wednesday morning, Winchester Police officers charged 52-year-old Katherine L. Holland and 54-year-old David E. Holland of Cook Avenue and 34-year-old Brittany N. Moore of Melbourne Street with second-degree criminal abuse after the situation was discovered.

“We’ve had some complaints about children being left unattended,” Winchester Police Department Capt. James Hall said.

When officers went to the residence on Cook Avenue for a welfare check, they found three children in the home, along with the Hollands.

In his citation, WPD officer Terry Cockrell said he saw open sewage outside the home within feet of the children’s toys.

Inside the home, there were moldy baby bottles, food on the floor and roaches throughout the kitchen, including the cabinets.

Cockrell said he also saw exposed electrical wiring within easy reach of a child.

Hall said the children were ages 8, 3 and 2. They were placed in the custody of social workers.

According to court documents, Moore told officers she had custody of the children, but left them with the Hollands and checked on them daily.

Hall said officers went to Moore’s residence and it was in livable condition, he said.

Moore, the children’s mother, was charged because she knew the condition of the grandparents’ home and took no steps to prevent the situation, Hall said.

The three were not arrested, but were issued citations to appear in court April 26.