Local couple charged with child neglect

A local couple who has addresses in both Gans and Vian has been arrested and charged with felony child neglect after they allegedly neglected and abandoned three minor children.

Brian N. Darland, 54, and Chelsea Darland, 34, were charged February 26 in Sequoyah County District Court and warrants were issued for their arrests the same day, according to court documents. The couple received a $10,000 bond each and are now scheduled to appear for an April 10 felony disposition docket.

Court records show the couple was also charged on Feb. 16 with a criminal misdemeanor count each of neglect or refusal to compel child to attend school and were given a $250 bond each.

Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy Justin Deuley reported receiving information on Feb. 18 of alleged child abuse from a reporting party. The reporting party said the Darlands and three minor children had moved to the Vian area and were living in a “trashy” camper, where the couple was allegedly using drugs and drinking alcohol in front of them.

The deputy was also told there were several puppies inside the camper, and that urine and feces were on the floor and on the children’s clothing.

Deuley was told that Brian Darland had allegedly became intoxicated and thrown the children out of the camper, giving them the choice to either go with a family member or to the Department of Human Services. Brian Darland also reportedly said that the children “were ruining his life and that he did not want anything to do with them,” according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

The family member reportedly picked the children up from the location and took them to a residence in Muldrow, where they had been staying for the past two weeks and not attended school.

The deputy later found that a truancy report was delivered to the school from the district attorney’s office concerning the children’s attendance. On Feb. 16 a criminal misdemeanor warrant was issued for both the Darlands, according to the affidavit.

Investigator Michelle Rigsby reported on Feb. 21 that she contacted Chelsea Darland and asked her where the children were and was told they were with a different relative, staying in Muldrow. When asked why she didn’t have the children, she reportedly told the deputy she no longer had the patience to take care of them and took them to the relative because the relative “had the means to take care of them (the children).”

When questioned about why they weren’t attending school, Chelsea Darland claimed it was because the children did not listen and had gotten in trouble. She also stated she believed their residence was too dirty, so she decided to take the children to the relative’s home.

The family member told the investigator Chelsea Darland said she needed to give the children to the relative before “they give them to DHS.” The family member said they had purchased new clothing for the children, got them all haircuts, and allowed them to eat whatever they wanted because they were so thin, according to the affidavit.

Because the children were left in care of the relative and multiple weeks had passed without hearing from either of the Darlands, a warrant was then requested for both of their arrests.

If found guilty of the charge, District Attorney Jack Thorp said the crime is punishable by imprisonment in the Department of Corrections not exceeding life imprisonment, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both fine and imprisonment.