Schenectady scapegoating gentleman charged in horrific boy or girl neglect situation
SCHENECTADY — Kevin Lownsbury, arrested earlier this thirty day period on baby endangerment costs just after police and paramedics observed a dying woman’s college age kids residing in squalor at their McClellan Road house, pleaded not guilty Thursday at his arraignment.
City Court docket Choose Robert Hoffman issued a short-term get of safety that bars Lownsbury, 46, from having any get in touch with with the 4 little ones, ages 10 to 17. He was unveiled following a brief look and still left court with his attorney, Kevin O’Brien.
O’Brien informed the Times Union that his client was in a romantic relationship with the girl, Jennifer L. Hoch, and lived with her but claimed he was remaining utilized as a “scapegoat” right after authorities uncovered the disorders.
O’Brien said Lownsbury and Hoch had been relationship for less than two months and that he tried to do some handyman function all-around the place to support her out.
“He did some repairs at the house, but he had no obligation for those people kids,” O’Brien reported outside the house courtroom. “It is very strange that they’re going after this dude mainly because he has no record of just about anything like this.”
Some of the children, at least three of whom attended Schenectady educational institutions, are staying with relations.
O’Brien claimed he expects that his shopper will be indicted by a county grand jury and the situation would be transferred to county court prior to his following scheduled court overall look on March 10.
Lownsbury was charged with two felony counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled individual and two misdemeanor offenses of endangering the welfare of a youngster after firefighter paramedics responded to 1121 McClellan St., to handle Hoch for a heart attack.
When Lownsbury was arrested, town officers said it may possibly have taken months or several years for problems in the property to get as bad as they have been when responders had been termed there Feb. 4.
Inside the one-relatives household, they observed trash piled up in several rooms and feces smeared on some of the walls wherever her children were living. The metropolis creating and code office was known as and the residence was deemed uninhabitable and every person was ordered out.
Firefighter paramedics, who wore protective fits when they went inside, were not able to revive the female.
Authorities mentioned they discovered 4 youngsters living in rooms crammed with trash and feces, a scene the head of the metropolis codes office described as the worst he had at any time witnessed. A fifth young human being, thought of an grownup, also resided in the property. A male explained as a grandfather also lived there. He does not encounter any charges in what police have said is an ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement and fireplace crews observed at minimum one of the children had been locked inside of a squalid area, in accordance to court docket documents. Metropolis officials claimed it appeared at minimum one of the little ones tried using to break as a result of a locked doorway.
At the very least two of the kids have disabilities and could not care for on their own, in accordance to the court papers.
