County man, woman charged with child neglect
Published 4:45 pm Wednesday, January 3, 2018
A Carter County man and woman face criminal charges after police say they found two small children in a home with poor living conditions.
Deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon Anderson, 28, and Amy Anderson, 49, both of 183 Hidden Oaks Drive, Johnson City, and charged each of them with child neglect.
According to court documents, CCSO Deputy Nathaniel Swymer and Deputy Justin Johnson responded to the home on Hidden Oaks Drive in the Pinecrest community after a 911 caller requested officers to check on two children in the home.
Swymer said Johnson arrived at the home first and then he responded to assist Johnson. The officers spoke with Brandon Anderson and Amy Anderson, both of whom appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant according to the officers. The deputies also identified two small children — ages 2 and 5 — who were also in the home.
“Mr. Anderson admitted to being under the influence of at least two 40-ounce beers,” Swymer said. “Ms. Anderson stated that she wasn’t under the influence, but I noticed she had slurred speech.” According to Swymer, Johnson said Amy Anderson had difficulty maintaining her balance when he first arrived at the home.
Swymer said he and Johnson found “numerous” small bottles of alcoholic beverages scattered throughout the house and on the floor.
“Deputy Johnson and I also found numerous prescription pills lying in the living room and the bedroom where (the 5-year-old child) had been sleeping in upon Deputy Johnson’s arrival,” Swymer said. “There were also numerous marijuana cigarette butts lying around the living room within a child’s reach.”
Swymer said there was also food and dirty clothes scattered in the house.
“Due to the conditions of the house, both adults being under the influence, the medication, and the alcohol bottles I am charging Mr. Anderson and Ms. Anderson with child neglect,” Swymer said in the affidavits of complaint against the pair.
Both Amy Anderson and Brandon Anderson appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Wednesday morning. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Amy Anderson and directed her to return to court on January 9. Bowers scheduled Brandon Anderson to return to court on Feb. 12 with an attorney.