Mother, son face charges over ‘deplorable’ conditions at house

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Adam Hawkins, 31, and his mother, Debra Hawkins, 48, were charged with cruelty to animals and noxious odors after officers found four emaciated mixed-breed dogs in a house at 50 S. Evanston Ave. that was in deplorable condition.

Police officers called in humane agent Kyle Ziegler, who entered the house Thursday evening with police. They discovered that “every room of the house was wall-to-wall dog feces,” police said, adding that the feces were on the first and second floors and in the basement.

The Hawkins were responsible for the dogs, police said.

Water to the house had been shut off in February, but someone was still using the upstairs toilet, which was overflowing onto the floor, police said.

The owner of the house, Adam Hawkins’ estranged wife, said Adam Hawkins and his mother had lived in the house since February.

One cat belonging to the Hawkinses was found outside the house, and when agent Ziegler attempted to place the cat in a cage, it bit a deep hole in Ziegler’s hand and left scratches on his leg. Ziegler received medical treatment from ambulance workers.

Adam and Debra Hawkins were released on a summons to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court at 10 a.m. Tuesday.