Authorities Discover Deplorable Conditions in Rimersburg Home; Couple Jailed on Child Endangerment

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published August 25, 2017 4:31 am
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RIMERSBURG BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — Following an investigation by Clarion County CYS and the New Bethlehem Police Department, a Rimersburg couple have been jailed on child endangerment charges.

Court documents indicate that the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 23-year-old Linda Lois Bashline and 26-year-old Keith Emery Bashline, of Rimersburg.

According to a criminal complaint, on August 17, Clarion County Children and Youth Services requested Sergeant Nicole Peck, of the New Bethlehem Police Department, to respond to 119 Ditty Drive, in Rimersburg Borough.

Sergeant Peck arrived on the scene around 1:45 p.m. and was met by a CYS worker. During welfare checks of the children residing in the home, the CYS worker discovered deplorable conditions. When she went inside the residence, the mother did have the middle child, age three, strapped in a toddler car seat in front of the television. The mother stated that she does this so she can get the cleaning done, according to the complaint.

A five-year-old female child was outside the trailer. She was very dirty. Her clothes were also covered in dirt, and her hair had numerous mats and clumps of hair that had not been brushed in some time, the complaint states.

When Sergeant Peck entered the residence, she noticed a strong odor. The living carpet was covered in food crumbs and garbage. There was an 11-month child sitting in a portable crib in the living room. The child was noticeably over-heated. He was very dirty. He had dirt in his nose and on his feet, and his diaper was full. Another male child, age three, was also very dirty, the complaint indicates.

During the inspection of the home, Sergeant Peck noted the following conditions:

– The kitchen was very dirty including old food, garbage, and similar conditions. When the refrigerator door was opened, numerous gnats and flies flew out.

– The living room had crumbs and old food on the floor and garbage throughout the room.

– All of the bedrooms were very dirty. None of the children’s mattresses had any sheets or pillows.

– The bathroom of this residence was very dirty and unsanitary. The toilet had been disconnected from the toilet pipe. Bashline stated that they would still use the toilet with a bucket in it, but then dump their feces and urine down the toilet drain. There was a green bucket in the toilet, and it was full of feces and urine.

– There was water in the home, but there was no hot water.

Around 2:00 p.m., Sergeant Peck took protective custody of the three minor children, and they were placed into foster care.

Linda Bashline and Keith Bashline were arraigned on August 23 in front of Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller on the following charges:

  • Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1 (3 counts)

Unable to post $5,000 monetary bail each, they were lodged in the Clarion County Jail.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on September 5 with Judge Miller presiding.

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