Father RUPERT ANTHONY THOMPSON pleaded no contest to child neglect charges for keeping TEN children in a filthy house. This is the kind of "child neglect" charges that women usually dominate, since women are more often the caretaking parent (or are assumed to be the caretaking parent). [Note that fathers beat out mothers when it comes to violent deaths of children, especially if you factor in murder-suicides which are often not counted as "child abuse" as such.]
Thompson is said to be the father of some of the children, stepfather to others. Is he custodial, at least of the biological children? Sure sounds like it. But as usual, the mainstream media never spells these things out very clearly.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/22/father-at-filthy-house-pleas-to-child-neglect/
Fort Pierce father at filthy house pleads to child neglect
By staff report Monday, June 22, 2009
FORT PIERCE — A father at a house where 10 children were suspected of living filth pleaded no contest Monday to a child neglect charge.
Rupert Anthony Thompson, 32, father of some of the children and stepfather of others, was arrested in October 2008 after authorities say they found feces, flies, roaches, trash, dirty diapers, rotting food, urine and exposed electrical outlets in the house in the 1100 block of Jasmine Avenue. The children ranged in age from 4 months to 12 years.
As part of a plea agreement, the State Attorney’s Office will recommend Thompson receive two years of probation when he’s sentenced by Circuit Judge Larry Schack. Sentencing is scheduled Aug. 19.