CLEARFIELD – Warrants have been issued for a couple that has been accused of concealing the whereabouts of two children from their court-ordered guardian, Clearfield County Children & Youth Services.
Lauren Lea Hyson, 32, of Philadelphia has been charged by Officer David W. Fye of the Clearfield Borough police with two counts of concealment of whereabouts of child, F3; endangering welfare of children, M1; two counts of interference with custody of children, M2; and recklessly endangering another person, M2.
Tony Ray Hodge, 31, also of Philadelphia, has been charged with two counts of concealment of whereabouts of child, F3; endangering welfare of children, M1; two counts of interference with custody of children, M2; and recklessly endangering another person, M2.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Aug. 22, a CYS worker notified police about a couple possibly interfering with the custody of two children. The worker told police a dependency hearing was held June 29, and the children’s biological parents, Hodge and Hyson, were both served notices to attend.
However, Hodge and Hyson didn’t attend the hearing with the victims. On June 30, the court issued arrest warrants for both parents; neither had been taken into custody as of Aug. 22. Both are believed to be living in the Philadelphia area with the children.
The worker said CYS was awarded primary custody of both children by the court. She also provided police with documentation showing that one of the children suffers from various medical conditions, is a patient of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and requires continuous medical care.
The worker also told police that when Hyson gave birth to the same child in July of 2016, her umbilical cord tested positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines.
On June 7, the worker visited the children’s residence. She said that Hyson was found asleep on the couch, and the residence was in disarray and hadn’t been cleaned.
Hodge allegedly tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepines, methamphetamines and amphetamines. The worker said both children were unclean and soiled diapers were found on the kitchen table.
As a result, CYS filed petitions in Clearfield County Court to obtain legal and physical custody of both children, which was ultimately awarded by the court.
On June 14, a second CYS worker spoke with Hyson and Hodge by phone. However, both allegedly failed to provide their current address in the Philadelphia area.
“… A reasonable person could conclude both juvenile victims could be subjected to unsafe and unhealthy living conditions,” police said in the affidavit. “It would be reasonable to also conclude that both victims may or would be denied the appropriate medical care.”