Parents endanger kids, get sent to prison

Judge ignores suggestions for parenting classes.

XENIA — Steven and Kristin Hamblin of Beavercreek were sentenced Wednesday to four years apiece for felony child endangerment after police found their three young children living with pet feces, vomit and food smeared on floors and walls.

Greene County Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Wolaver ignored the prosecutor’s recommendation for parenting classes, a mental health assessment and community control when the couple agreed to a plea deal April 4.

Instead, Wolaver sentenced each parent to 16 months apiece for three counts of felony child endangering to be served consecutively for a total of four years. The Hamblins’ attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Last year, they were convicted in Fairborn Municipal Court of multiple first-degree misdemeanor child endangerment charges and dog-related violations and placed on probation.

Steven V. Hamblin, 24, and Kristin M. Hamblin, 26, of 1173 Fergus Drive, were arrested after a Sept. 11 incident in which police found their 4-year-old girl, and two boys, ages 2 and 1, living in deplorable conditions.

According to police, an officer found the three children unsupervised. Police also said that in addition to the feces from the five dogs and two cats, there was trash and stains on the carpet and beer cans and trash on the counter tops.

In the children’s bedroom, an officer saw bread and food smeared on the floor, no sheets on the beds, old cat feces and an exposed electrical outlet.

A grand jury found probable cause that the children were living in an unsafe and/or unhealthy environment. The children were transferred to the care of a grandparent.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi @DaytonDailyNews.com.

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