Woman, boyfriend face child neglect charges

By BEN MONTGOMERY
Published December 10, 2006

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VALRICO - A 26-year-old Valrico woman and her boyfriend were arrested early Saturday after sheriff's deputies allegedly found the woman's three young children home alone while the woman worked a night shift stocking shelves at Wal-Mart on State Road 60.

According to arrest records, Donna Jean Bills left her children - ages 6, 4 and 1 - home alone while she worked.

She was arrested on a felony charge of child neglect at about 1:30 a.m., according to arrest reports, when she returned home during a break.

Also arrested on a charge of child neglect was Hector Guerra, 26, who neighbors said was Bills' boyfriend.

Deputies allegedly found the children early Saturday inside a mobile home off Valrico Road. The home was filled with trash and had "bugs covering the walls," according to arrest reports.

Bills reportedly left the home about 10 p.m. for her shift, which was scheduled to end at 7 a.m.

"Defendant related she thought it was okay to leave the 6-year-old victim alone and in charge of the other kids," the report states.

No one answered the door at the home on Saturday.

Flies buzzed around a window on the mobile home and diapers and dishes could be seen among toys on the floor inside.

Jamie Baxter, who lives nearby, said she and her husband often saw the children home alone. Sometimes, she said, the young children roamed outside the home without supervision.

Ben Montgomery can be reached at bmontgomery@sptimes.com or 813-661-2443.