CLAYCOMO, Mo. — A Clay County man faces a child endangerment charge after his three-year-old daughter was found locked inside of their Claycomo apartment in filthy conditions.
James C. Simpson is being held in the Clay County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash-only bond after he was charged with one count each of child endangerment and stealing. He is accused of padlocking the child in the apartment, which authorities say had garbage, used syringes and pornographic videos scattered on the floor within reach of the child.
Authorities say that on Thursday, bail bondsman Kevin Vetsch – who was searching for Simpson in connection to an alleged forged check for bail bonds services – called police after finding the apartment in the 20 block of Riley padlocked from the outside, and the toddler alone inside.
Police responded to the scene, and social workers from the Missouri Division of Family Services took custody of the child, who later released her to her mother. Simpson returned home while police were on the scene, and was arrested for child endangerment and stealing, after police say that it was learned that he left the apartment to go shoplifting.
If convicted, Simpson faces up to two years behind bars.