Police: Children found in ‘deplorable’ conditions in Menallen Township
Three people are facing charges after a man reportedly threatened a child and his mother, and police found the children living in “deplorable” conditions in Menallen Township with guns and drugs inside.
Lamontaz Willie Donta Vales, 21, of Hatfield Road in Smock, allegedly made “numerous threats” toward Alisha Nicole Brown, 26, and her 4-year-old son. Brown and Raekwon Kahlil Pratt, 20, of Lenox Street in Uniontown are also charged in the case.
Brown called state police at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, saying her boyfriend threatened to beat and harm them with a gun. The couple live together in the Smock home with her 4-year-old boy and their 18-month-old son, according to court documents.
Inside, state police said they saw an AR-15 and marijuana in the living room. They obtained a search warrant and found three guns, a plastic baggie of marijuana, a scale and smoking devices. One of the guns was reported stolen, court documents said.
State police said dog feces was scattered throughout the residence, along with clothing. There were no clean dishes, and the guns and drugs were unsecured and accessible to the children, court paperwork indicated.
Vales is not allowed to possess a firearm because of a possession of a firearm as a minor conviction, police said.
Pratt was found outside with a loaded gun. He told police he and Vales were shooting guns at the fire pit in the backyard. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of juvenile convictions of burglary and prohibited offensive weapons, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.
Vales and Brown are charged with receiving stolen property and endangering the welfare of children. Vales is facing an additional count of endangering the welfare of children, along with three counts of possession of a firearm prohibited, two counts of simple assault, and one count each of terroristic threats, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Pratt is charged with possession of a firearm prohibited and receiving stolen property.
They were each arraigned on $100,000 bail Friday morning by Magisterial District Judge Jennifer Jeffries. They remain in Fayette County Prison unable to post bail.