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Neb. Mom Caged Her 2 Sons in a Dog Kennel

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on October 28, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A Nebraska mom is facing charges that she caged her two sons in a wire dog kennel. Ashly Clark, 22, has been charged with a myriad of crimes ranging from felony to misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment.

Police were dispatched to the trailer home when they received a call requesting they check on the welfare of the children.

What they found was a home in complete disarray. Officers say the trailer was filled with the smell of urine. They also found garbage and animal feces throughout the home. 

Officers then found Clark's two boys, ages 3 and 5, caged in a 30 by 42-inch wire dog kennel.

Clark lived in the trailer with three other adults, including a couple named Bryson and Samantha Eyten. The couple have two daughters: an 8-month-old and an 8-year-old. The girls were not caged.

All four adults living in the trailer were arrested and charged. The four children were taken and put into state custody.

Investigators say that there is no evidence that the children were ever physically abused. They also weren't malnourished.

But just because there is no evidence of physical abuse does not mean no abuse took place. Child abuse can take a variety of different forms. Typically, statutes will vary by jurisdiction. However, laws generally define abuse as any type of cruel acts inflicted on children. This can include neglect or mental abuse.

The fact that Clark's two boys were locked in a cage at night might signify emotional abuse. And, the extremely dirty state of the home could also mean the children's health was neglected.

Speaking to authorities, Ashly Clark claimed she caged her sons to prevent them from climbing out the trailer's window at night. Clark and the two other adults will make court appearances next week. Their bail is set at $50,000 each, reports the AP.

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