LORAIN — Lorain County Children Services is working with the mother of a child who was found neglected in a home with a registered sex offender.
Shacara Payne, 22, was charged with child endangering Saturday after police said they found her baby daughter unattended, dirty and wearing a diaper full of feces.
Police said Payne was passed out naked on the floor with a registered sex offender, Justy Ballard, who was convicted in 2004 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Police said Payne’s kitchen was filled with empty beer cans and liquor bottles, and the refrigerator was empty and did not contain baby food. An officer wrote that Payne was drunk and seemed unconcerned about her daughter.
Lt. Mark Carpentiere said Children Services was contacted after the incident, and Children Services spokeswoman Patti-Jo Burtnett said the agency will be involved with the woman’s case.
“We are aware of the situation, and we are conducting our own investigation and working with law enforcement,” she said.
Burtnett said Payne’s child is safe and staying with family members, although she could not comment on the child’s temporary custody placement. She said she could not comment on whether Children Services had been involved with the woman before.
Contact Chelsea Miller at 329-7123 or cmiller@chroniclet.com.
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