East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

ATHENS — Children were left outside of the home of an elderly grandparent as the parents went for a child support hearing. Residents in the area called law enforcement when the three children, including a 1-year-old, were found wandering streets alone — now their mother and stepfather are jailed on endangering and abandonment charges.

Henderson County Sheriff’s Lt. Pat McWilliams said Jason Monroe Wakeman, 37, of Athens, and his 26-year-old wife, Deallina Jo, were arrested at the Athens Child Protective Services office Wednesday and transported to the Henderson County Jail.

“From what I understand, the parents were supposed to appear in court for a child-support hearing in Athens and dropped them off with an elderly parent who cannot care for herself,” he said. “They didn’t tell anyone they were leaving the children, they just dropped them off at the house without going in. They left the kids in the street.”

McWilliams said residents on Pecan Circle Drive in the Shady Oaks community, south of Athens, stated that a toddler was crawling in the street and into driveways with no adult supervision observed.

A second call reported a 3-year-old female child and 6-year-old male child walking on Farm-to-Market Road 753 in the same community.

McWilliams said the three children were transported to East Texas Medical Center-Athens, where they were evaluated before being released to CPS.

The children are being reunited with family members from Vidor and the case is being investigated by Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Miers and Investigator Kevin Hanes.

McWilliams said Wakeham has been handled by the Henderson County Sheriff’s department multiple times on charges, but added he had never been charged with any type of abandonment.

“We’re very fortunate the kids were not hit by a vehicle and killed,” he said.

McWilliams said the two are scheduled to be arraigned this morning.