By:Mike Deeson
The three siblings of the little girl are now in state custody. At a custody hearing, a judge learned the children have never been to a doctor.The children’s grandparents now want to care for them.The father, Greg Pound, and his three older children visited the two- week- old girl for the first time Wednesday at all children’s hospital.When Pound finished talking with us, he was joined by a Pinellas county sheriff’s deputy.The Sheriff’s Office said the children were being taken into protective custody, after investigators found the children’s environment unsafe.There appears to be a pattern of problems at the home where the vicious dog bit the child. That may provide a clue why the state felt it was imperative to take the children out of their parents custody and put them into a safer environment.The attorney for Greg and Melissa Pound says the incident was an accident. However even their attorney Allen Allweiss admits the judge made the right decision to allow the state to have custody of the other children.ALLEN ALLWEISS:
“She found probable cause that something needs to be done and the department needs to be involved.”10 news has learned deputies have been called to the home several times. It started in 1996 with a civil matter, in 1998 a battery, and a larceny the same year. Then in 2000 deputies had to assist a child protection investigator called to the home. There was an incident with family trouble that year. Then in 2002 there was an incident involving more family trouble and an incident aiding an escape.Despite the encounters with the law, Greg Pound’s uncle says the couple is wonderful with the children.BILL SEITTERS:
“They’re good parents no doubt about that.”However he adds his nephew is depressed.BILL SEITTERS:
“It was just the idea he doesn’t have his kids and he doesn’t know what he has to do to get them back as yet.”But the couple’s attorney says he believes the children will be home soon.ALLEN ALLWEISS:
“The goal of the department is reconciliation. It is written into the statute and that’s what going to happen as soon as they check everything out and make sure everything is satisfactory.”The state is now doing a home study of the maternal grandparent’s home. If that checks out, they will get the three kids, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.Meantime the sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Unit is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. The baby is in critical but stable condition. The couple’s attorney says she will recover. The father’s mother told me today there is a possibility the baby will suffer brain damage.
