Woman jailed on child neglect charge

A 28-year-old Indian Hills woman was jailed on $25,000 bail Wednesday on a charge of child abuse and neglect after deputies found her passed out in her Vista Grande residence leaving three small children unsupervised.

Deputies said a 5-year-old boy answered their knock at 2:23 p.m. and they could see his 1-year-old sister on the floor in the living room.

He admitted officers to the residence and pointed to the back bedroom when asked where his mother was.

Deputies found Melissa Howell passed out in the bedroom. A 2-year-old girl was asleep on the dirty carpet.

The residence, in the 3500 block of Vista Grande, was littered with dirty dishes, clothing, empty bottles of alcohol, and open beer cans.

Cigarette butts, feces, food and other debris covered the carpets throughout the residence, including the children's bedrooms.

The bathroom sink was clogged with water and feces, according to investigators. The bathtub was filled with clothes.

Stephanie Baumgardner, 24, wanted for an outstanding warrant in Carson City, was asleep in another room.

Deputies arrested Baumgardner and Howell and released the children to Child Protective Services.

Howell is to appear in East Fork Justice Court for arraignment Friday.

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