Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

New Rockford couple accused of child neglect

On Tuesday, March 8, the Eddy County Sheriff's Office conducted a search warrant for suspected child neglect at a home on the 1000 block of 2nd Avenue North in New Rockford.

Occupants of the home were Gregory and Danielle Holland and their two children, a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old.

Deputy Chris Bittman of the Eddy County Sheriff's Office applied for the search warrant following a wellness check on Feb. 23. The wellness check was conducted by request after one of the children had amassed an "overwhelming amount" of tardies and absences from school.

"I expressed my concern to Danielle about her child not being in school on time," wrote Deputy Bittman in the case report. "... While I was talking with Danielle, I was overwhelmed by the odor of urine. After I left Danielle's house, I had to go home and change my uniform, due to ... the lingering odor of urine."

Nearly two weeks later, Deputy Bittman, accompanied by Deputy Jacob Roberts, Eddy County Sheriff Paul Lies and Kara Knecht of Central Prairie Social Services, returned to the house with a search warrant and a camera.

What they discovered led them to place the Hollands' two children into protective custody.

"The residence was in complete disarray, counter tops were full of dishes, empty cans, food and other junk," wrote Sheriff Lies in the case report. "The floors were almost completely full of clothes, food, toys, junk and garbage. ... There were cats running around the house hiding in piles of clothing."

"When I first entered the house, I observed an overflown litter box filled with feces by the laundry room," added Deputy Bittman. "... I observed dried feces on the floor throughout the house."

A bong sitting in "plain view" was also soon discovered, and a second search warrant was granted, allowing officers to search for narcotics and additional drug paraphernalia.

According to the case report, the Hollands led law enforcement directly to a meth pipe with white residue, what appeared to be marijuana, and three plastic containers with more white residue, which Danielle Holland admitted to being containers for methamphetamines.

The case report states that more drug paraphernalia and "smoking devices" were found in the kids' bedroom upstairs, the basement, laundry room and the bathroom.

Danielle and Gregory Holland have been charged with neglect of a child and endangerment of a child, both Class C Felonies, as well as possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, both Class A Misdemeanors.

If found guilty on all charges, the couple could face nearly 12 years behind bars and more than $25,000 in fines.

The formal charging documents of Danielle Holland, which are identical to those of Gregory Holland, allege that both children were living "in a home ... that was filled with such a volume of trash, rotting food, feces, and other debris and filth that rooms in the house were nearly inaccessible, making the home unlivable and unfit for the children's, or anyone's, physical health and safety."

Sheriff Lies informed the Transcript on Monday that both children were currently in a "foster care setting." According to the case report, Gregory and Danielle Holland promised to clean their home and make the necessary changes for the sake of their children.

The Hollands represented themselves in court on Wednesday, March 23, and pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. Both are considered innocent until proven guilty.

 
 
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