WAYNESBORO, Ga. --- If Jeremy Long gets out of jail and wants to stay out, he'll have to do something he hasn't done in a while: Tell the government where he's living.
And he'll have to do it every day.
In granting a $25,000 bond Thursday for the father of 11 children and teenagers found living in squalor in an abandoned house this summer, Superior Court Judge James Blanchard said Mr. Long must check in every 24 hours at the Burke County jail and write his address next to his name.
He also has to find a steady job, and any visitation with his wife and children must be supervised by the Burke County Department of Family and Children Services.
"The first day you do not sign in, I'm going to put out a warrant for you," Judge Blanchard said. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Mr. Long said, gaunt and clean-shaven in dark blue jail garb, his ankles shackled above white tennis shoes.
The 37-year-old father -- a sometime pulpwood worker, construction worker and electrician from Louisiana -- is charged with second-degree cruelty to children, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He has been jailed since surrendering to authorities Aug. 8 and remained there late Thursday.
Judge Blanchard said he wanted to be impartial but couldn't forget what he'd read about the case in the newspaper.
On July 31, after a neighbor reported the theft of a chain saw, police found Mr. Long's wife and children, ages 10 months to 18 years, living in a dilapidated house off Springhill Church Road on the Burke County side of Hephzibah. They had no running water, no electricity and no food except two jars of jelly. None of the children had ever been to school, said their mother, Christine Long, claiming they were home-schooled.
The children are now in foster homes, Burke County Sheriff Greg Coursey said Thursday. The 18-year-old daughter lives with her mother in a rental house, and Mrs. Long's mother and grandparents are helping her pay rent. Waynesboro churches have made donations, and two stores have given furniture.
"To truly be a Christian is to reach out to people like this," Sheriff Coursey said.
The three oldest teens are being home-schooled by their foster parents, and the other school-age children are enrolled in Burke County schools, the sheriff said. One of the teens recently made a perfect score on a social studies test. Two of the older children have shown artistic talent, the sheriff said.
Neither Mrs. Long nor her children were at Thursday's hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Fogus called Mr. Long a flight risk and opposed bond. He has no valid driver's license, and the district attorney's office hasn't found a paper trail showing his recent whereabouts.
Mr. Fogus said a criminal background check revealed Mr. Long was a "fugitive from Baton Rouge Police Department" in 1989. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Kelly said Thursday that Mr. Long isn't wanted by the department, and the record could be a remnant of his once failing to appear in court.
Mr. Fogus said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is still looking into the case, and he fears Mr. Long might influence the witnesses -- his children.
But the judge said there should be some contact between them. Mr. Long's children shouldn't suffer by having a parent ripped away, he said.
Earlier in the hearing, Mr. Long's public defender, Alexia Davis, told the judge the children weren't really living at the abandoned house, but rather with a friend, a mechanic, in south Augusta. Sheriff Coursey said the husband and wife told him the same thing and that the mechanic, nicknamed "Greasy," had dropped them off at the Hephzibah house that day to play in a creek nearby.
The sheriff said their claim of another home hasn't been verified. A Richmond County sheriff's deputy drove by the address Mrs. Long gave off Wrightsboro Road and found another house that looked unsuitable for children, he said.
Neighbors off Springhill Church Road, including Pam Bartlett, whose father's chain saw was stolen the day of the discovery, have told The Augusta Chronicle that the Long family had been living in the house for years, though they didn't know there were 11 children or that the house didn't have utilities. Richmond County school board member Marion Barnes, the caretaker of the 75-acre property, told The Chronicle he didn't know the family was there.
Sheriff Coursey said the children appeared cared for when police found them. Their hair seemed clean and their teeth looked brushed, though one had noticeable decay on her front teeth. None had ever been vaccinated or been to a doctor.
Since his arrest, Mr. Long has repeatedly asked about his children, requesting a picture of them, Sheriff Coursey said. His main concern seems to be whether the family will reunite, he said.
Judge Blanchard asked Mr. Long's attorney where his client has been working and how much money he makes. Ms. Davis said he's done sporadic construction work. At one time, he made $800 a week, but his income has dropped to $400 a week, she said.
The judge jotted calculations on a piece of paper, figuring out the poverty level for a family of 13.
"He'd have to, just to get by, make $53,000 per year," Judge Blanchard said. "What I'm saying is the man needs help."
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
Reach Mike Wynn at (706) 823-3218 or mike.wynn@augustachronicle.com.
LONG CHILDREN BORN IN AUGUSTA
Burke County Sheriff Greg Coursey said Thursday that birth certificates show all 11 of Jeremy and Christine Long's children were born in Augusta -- at University, St. Joseph's or Doctors hospitals.
He gave their genders and ages as follows:
GIRLS: 18, 17, 16, 13, 4, 2
BOYS: 14, 12, 8, 5 or 6, 10 months
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
Marion Barnes wasn't much of a caretaker if they had lived there for a long time...I'm glad to see her parents and grand parents have now stepped up to help them. What ever happened to the money and such that was collected when the story first broke? I wish the children the best, the parent should be given birth control and directions on how to use it.
The only answer is sterilization for both of them!
Long needs more then help. He needs a vasectomy. He's incapable or unwilling to support one child, but he has eleven and the capability to make more. What a horrible thing to do to these children.
REALITY.......what does Marion Barnes have to do with that sorry excuse of a sperm donor? Some of the miscreants on here really amaze me? Other than being the owner of the property....he has nothing to do with the way those children were living. Some of you will call out people just to cast any type of dirt on them. Get a life!
Judge Blanchard allowed the newspaper accounts to influence his decision??? I guess judges can do things that juries aren't allowed to do.
zambu, we should hold our politicians to a higher level of being accountable. Barnes owned the property, knew the people were living in squalid conditions and didn't do anything about it.
Zambo, Marion Williams "had something to do with it" as CARETAKER of the property. If you are "taking care" of something, don't YOU think it should be checked occassionally? It appears Marion was taking care of the property like he took care of taxpayers money, LOL!!!!
How can he check in every day if he doesnt have a drivers license ?
Paulwitherspoon, the caretaker/property owner is Marion Barnes, not Marion Williams. The father will need more than one job to support his family. He needs to work during the day and sit his butt in jail every night. Given a chance, he may flee from this situation and head back to the swamps of Louisiana.
Prove that Barnes knew that that family was there? Spoon, you will take any opportunity to throw mud, even to the point of calling the wrong person out.
This man sorely needs help (Judge Blanchard states.) I agree. Time for a vasectomy so this clown fathers no more kids!
Why does he need a drivers license if he doesn't own a vehicle? Hell, lets just get him a car, home, and a great-paying job (he does needs help) at a minimum 60,000 yr. Is this the help Judge B was referencing? Maybe he can camp out in the county courthouse bathroom, and won't have an excuse for not signing in.
Too bad vasectomies and tube ties can't be made mandatory under such conditions as this.
Mandatory sterilization should be made legal. Blame the bleeding heart liberals that it is not!
Wow a lot of people agreeing with sterilization. I ususally get blasted for that by someone. Amen you guys!! The bleeding hearts must be skipping this story today!!!!! They care more about a p.o.s right to reproduce than they do the children having a right not to be born into such a messed up life!!!!!!!
all u ppl here gripe me. i think the mother should be charged as well. she is just as much to blame as the father. it is no body fault but the parents. do not put the blame on any one else. and yes i think both need to be talk about birth control. but then again look at the teenage girl having baby and living off us tax payer.
I agree WHY is the mother not being charged? She claims she was home-schooling but they found no books or educational materials.Why did she not get help for her and the children? Something is not right or we are not being told the whole story.
I also agree. The mother should also be charged and given the same orders as the father. She should also get a job and help take care of these kids. It took two people to make a baby and it takes two people to raise kids. Put her butt in jail also. All of a sudden, her mother and grandparents stepped in to help, so why didn`t they do it before all this happen? After my father died, MY MOM raised 9 kids by herself. I was 19, so I did my best to help her. I raised 6 kids by myself, bringing home $150 a week. So there is no excuse for either of these so-call parents. Judge B should give her the same charges and make her report also.
When will the whole story be told? What about "Greasy?" His butt should be arrested also for aiding the parents hide the kids. I wonder if this is really their true identity? Something is very wrong beyond the fact the kids were neglected. When will this paper tell all?
Where did he get the bail money? There is something very strange about this case. I do feel there is a lot the newspaper is not saying. I really don't like taking up for this man -- it sounds pretty bad what I read here, but he is entitled to a fair trial. I learned from watching Bill Clinton – you can put a spin on anything. I do wonder does Mr. Long have a lawyer? There was a lot of talk about what the DA and judge said, but what did Mr. Long's lawyer say? Did his lawyer hang his head in shame? Did the lawyer ask the judge to transfer the case to another judge because he could not be impartial? Did the lawyer object to the high bond – this man has very limited mean and no job? It seems to me the DA has charged this man and needs more time to build a case. I would think his lawyer should push for a speedy jury trial.. I would probably think this man does not have much education – it would be good if he was religious and a Catholic – this would explain no birth control. Can you just for one moment pretend that you didn’t have the childhood you did – the loving parent that you had that taught you right from wrong and instilled the values you have -- imagine for just one moment you are standing in this man’s shoes with all these children – I don’t know about you, but I would be very depressed – I can’t see any way he could get out of this – I think even the judge had some sympathy for him for a moment – The newspaper says: The judge jotted calculations on a piece of paper, figuring out the poverty level for a family of 13. "He'd have to, just to get by, make $53,000 per year," Judge Blanchard said. "What I'm saying is the man needs help." I would like to have heard more about what his lawyer said. I can understand it is difficult to take up for someone like this, but if you are his lawyer it is your job. It sounds like your client is being prosecuted for being poor and uneducated. He is charged with second-degree cruelty to children, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison because he is poor and uneducated and can not take care of his children. He probably has mental problems too. Why didn't his wife ask for help in this day and age wouldn't the welfair department help with food and housing? If a woman can run for Vice President why can't a woman be responsible for her children. Is it a crime to be poor in Amercia -- if these banks keep closing and gas prices going up a lot more of us will soon be living in Squalor -- I guess they will put us in jail too.
hey hey now aleast this man kept his family together and he works,,I can't say nothing about these other bums....don't the manights whatever u call them live without running water,light,erc and home school there kids? so whats the point and messing with is man
I agree 100% about charging this mother, she is not a true mother not to provide for her kids, well atleast try to provide. What's it been 1 1/2 that the kids have been taken away, well tell me why she doesn't have a job, I will tell you because she has got it to easy, everybody is giving her so many hand outs and she is living like a Queen, I wonder if DFACS has made a inside home visit since she has be put up in this rental property, I hope the landlord his wating out for his property, God knows what it looks like inside. I work everyday 12-15 hours per day and she is living better than me. Now don't get me wrong Dead Beat dads need to pay also. Chop it off and throw it away and put a clamp on her.
Bears -- If this woman was not charged with a crime -- how does the government justify taking her children away from her? All I know is what I read in the newspaper. It sounds like these were homeless people -- It appears like the children were educated according to the newspaper and they were in good health -- they had to be eating. The only crimes I see is these people were homeless and too proud to ask for help. Most people would have the children diagnosed with ADD drawing SSI checks for each one of them, getting foods stamps, and a HUD voucher for a 12-bedroom house. I think they ought to drop the charge against this man and get this family back together provided the parents are willing to get help. I think the parents need some counseling – someone to advise them on how to obtain public assistance – there is NO WAY this man can provide for a family of 13 on his own – he needs help like the Judge said. I don’t see anything in the paper saying the children were abused physically. It appears to me the parents love the children and was trying to provide the best they could with what they had to work with. I don’t know what in the world I would do if I had 11 children – I raised 2 and that was a job – I suppose, if God blessed me with 11 children – I would do my best to love and take care of each one of them. I really would not think it was anyone business how many children I had! I would find someway to provide for them -- I would probably buy a track of land in the country and buy several used mobile homes. It would probably take 3 or 4 singlewide mobile homes to have enough living space for 13 people. I guess, we would become a trailer park family. We would grow our own food if we had to – we would do oaky -- but it would be a job! I would probably have to get a used school bus to use as a family car. Where there is a will there is a way and through our belief in God all things are possible.
The family might make some money with a book or a reality TV show -- They could call it "Is 11 Enough or Should We Try for an Even Dozen" or something like that. This drama started 18 years ago (He was about the age of his oldest daughter, 18) – I would read the book or watch a reality TV shows about it. I am curious how they coped with this for so many years. All we know so far is what the government agencies have told the newspaper. I would like to hear the parent's side of the story.
Goaliemom and others who are blasting the mother of the children. IF you READ the article, it is clearly obvious that the children did receive an education and were provided subsistence and were clean; otherwise, not even one could ace a social studies test, let alone exhibit artistic talents. So the housing is not up to your standards, so what. You think the tenement district of metropolitan cities offers anything better? Sterilization is cruel and inhumane; if you think it is so great, one of you posters PLEASE step up and get the first whack! Some of you CLAIM to be christian; obviously your christian benevolence is reserved for only those who live and think like you do. I agree with the judge, the man does need help and so does the mom. The fact that there are 11 children is irrelevant; this case could have exploded if there were only 1 child. It appears that some of you believe that the only people deserving to live are those who are robotic images of yourself--your attitude towards a fellow human being leaves much to be desired and certainly does not put into practice the teachings of Christ.
Goaliemom and others who are blasting the mother of the children. IF you READ the article, it is clearly obvious that the children did receive an education and were provided subsistence and were clean; otherwise, not even one could ace a social studies test, let alone exhibit artistic talents. So the housing is not up to your standards, so what. You think the tenement district of metropolitan cities offers anything better? Sterilization is cruel and inhumane; if you think it is so great, one of you posters PLEASE step up and get the first whack! Some of you CLAIM to be christian; obviously your christian benevolence is reserved for only those who live and think like you do. I agree with the judge, the man does need help and so does the mom. The fact that there are 11 children is irrelevant; this case could have exploded if there were only 1 child. It appears that some of you believe that the only people deserving to live are those who are robotic images of yourself--your attitude towards a fellow human being leaves much to be desired and certainly does not put into practice the teachings of Christ.
What do you think the 11 children feel when they read in the newspaper comments -- they should have never been brought into this world – their parents should have used birth control? How will this affect their self-image in the future? It appears to me the government thinks they should have used birth control too. If I was one of these children that would imply to me I should have never been born – my parents are in trouble because I was born. I would feel guilty about being born. If the government is truly concerned about these children they will make every effort they can to get this family back together. The DA wants to use these children as witnesses against the father in court -- how will this effect the children as it appears to me the case is really all about the parents had too many children and some of then should never have been born. My personal belief is God put all of us here for a reason. I don’t believe we should question why someone was born. God made it possible for these parents to have 11 children. God has provided for this family for the past 18 years -- not to the government's standards, but the children seem to be doing well. I think God is still watching over this family -- I think God is patiently waiting for the Christian thing to be done.
mable8 -- the only reason I bring the mother into it -- I don't see how they can charge one without the other. The father must have been providing food and other stuff – how else could the mother feed the children? A paycheck will not go far when providing for 13 people. I think the only crime is being poor and homeless -- where do you find a house with space for 13 people?
Who posted the $25,000 bond ? Most bonding companies charge 10%.
That would be about $2500.00 the children could have used that money. I have no idea who posted the bond. I would guess, God touched someone's heart.