Two Arrested After Minor Found Living Alone In Trailer For Two Months

December 2, 2017

An Escambia County man and woman have been charged with felony child neglect after it was discovered that a minor in their care had reportedly be left alone for months.

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) began an investigation on Thursday, Nov. 30th after a complainant reported that Joshua Keith Sanders, 32 and Jennifer Renee Nichols, 34, had rented a trailer from her but neither adult actively resided in the trailer.

The complainant discovered that only a male minor lived in the trailer. He told the responding deputy that he had been alone in the residence for approximately two months.

He reported that he had only minimal contact with Sanders and Nichols and occasionally received money for food from them to buy one or two meals.

The deputy made contact with Sanders over the phone, who provided an address to his and Nichols’ location and stated that he was not in charge of or responsible for the minor.

The male minor stated in response that although he was not currently emancipated, he was attempting to find the paperwork to emancipate himself.

ECSO deputies then located Sanders and Nichols and detained them both.

The ECSO deputy later accompanied Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigators to the residence and during an investigation determined that there was no food in the residence and that the general condition of the trailer was unsafe.

The minor was removed and transported to DCF custody.

Sanders and Nichols were arrested and charged with felony second-degree child neglect with great bodily harm.

They each are being held on $5,000 bond and have a scheduled court date of December 21st.

At this time, the incident was determined not to meet the criteria for domestic violence due to there being no evidence of physical violence.

Comments

8 Responses to “Two Arrested After Minor Found Living Alone In Trailer For Two Months”

  1. Safebear on December 3rd, 2017 4:48 pm

    Well, I think his emancipation request will have a problem – if there was no food in the house and he “gets money from them for food”, he obviously is not as independent as he thinks he is.

  2. bewildered on December 3rd, 2017 1:20 pm

    The article states the minor was in their care – so they are obviously not the parents. If the male was not responsible for the kid at all, why was he arrested?

  3. Dennis on December 3rd, 2017 10:59 am

    Harvey I am almost certain DCF would not have taken him into custody unless he was a minor. BTW where did you come up with 20? Just wondering????

  4. Good Grief on December 3rd, 2017 7:34 am

    Where were the grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends? Someone had to know this was going on.

  5. Allen David Miller on December 3rd, 2017 5:45 am

    Harvey Miller really? If he was 20, how could he be a minor?

    The “minor” is under the age of 16 if that satisfies your curiosity.

  6. Howie on December 2nd, 2017 11:12 am

    The article does not state how old the male minor is. But from reading the article:

    The male minor stated in response that although he was not currently emancipated, he was attempting to find the paperwork to emancipate himself.

    To attempt to emancipate himself, Florida law states: A minor child sixteen years or older may petition the court through a parent, legal guardian, or guardian ad litem to become legally emancipated for all purposes. If the court finds that the minor child is financially independent of the parents, emancipation will likely be granted.

    God Bless you young man. May the Lord watch over you and guide you throughout your days ahead.

  7. Grand Locust on December 2nd, 2017 10:25 am

    No good deed goes unpunished. When will common sense return to our criminal justice system.

  8. Harvey Miller on December 2nd, 2017 5:52 am

    You really need to show how old the minor was. Perhaps he was 20, and if so there would be no problem of him living alone.